Silent Feeling

Untitled Episode2

James's life is full of memories surrounding this oak tree. Suddenly, he remembered that first day.

The day James first came to join Rehavi University as a professor.

That morning was different. New place, new responsibilities. Everything was unfamiliar. A strange excitement and restlessness was working in his mind.

When he reached the university, he saw that the gate was not yet fully opened. So he came and stood under this oak tree. Exactly where he is sitting today.

James did not notice that the sky had become dark all around. Moreover, the sky could not be seen clearly from behind the leaves of the trees in the garden.

The huge university building stood in front of him. James stared at it steadily. He felt as if he was standing at the entrance to a new chapter in his life. But at the same time, numerous questions were swirling in his mind....

Will he be able to become a good professor?

Will the students accept him easily?

Will he be able to develop a different identity of his own in this new environment?

Question after question seemed to be creating a storm in his mind. He stood quietly and tried to calm himself, taking deep breaths. Just then, a sweet voice came into his ears...

What is this gentleman thinking?

James was startled and looked back. That voice seemed to bring him back to reality. As he turned, he saw a beautiful woman looking at him and smiling softly.

She had an umbrella on her head, wearing a white dress, simple yet beautiful. She seemed to look even more radiant in the cloudy soft light of the sky. Her smile was calm and sincere, and her presence filled the surrounding environment with a strange warmth.

James felt a sweet fragrance wafting from the woman's body. Like the smell of fresh flowers in the morning. That scent and her smile combined to create a feeling that filled James's mind in an instant. All his restlessness seemed to disappear.

For a few moments, James just stared at her. Time seemed to have stopped. The surrounding noise, the patter of raindrops, everything seemed to have moved away. Only that woman and her smile seemed to have become real.

James began to wonder, who was this unknown woman? There was curiosity in her eyes, and a slight mischievous smile was on her lips.

Just then, James noticed that a small smile had unknowingly appeared on his own face. He himself did not realize when that smile had come to his lips.

The woman said again,

What are you thinking about, looking at the university while wet in the rain? And why are you smiling like that?

James felt a little embarrassed. Then he noticed that his clothes were almost completely wet in the rain, and he realized it by now.

He smiled lightly and said,

To be honest, I don't even know what I was thinking. And you asked so many questions at once. I'm thinking about which one to answer first!

There was sincerity in her voice and a slightly unprepared smile. The woman smiled softly and looked at him. There was a strange assurance in that smile. As if she wanted to say, everything will be fine.

At that moment, James realized that some moments in life are very small, very ordinary, but they unknowingly become the most profound memories.

James looked at the woman and said,

My name is James.

He extended his hand that was shaking for a handshake.

Just then, James noticed that the woman was standing with an umbrella above her head. The woman smiled softly and extended her hand to shake his hand, saying in a soft voice,

I am Sophia. I work in the library of this university.

James shook his head a little unpreparedly. The raindrops were still falling on the edge of the umbrella and patting it. In the distance, students were seen running towards the campus to avoid getting wet in the rain.

There was a strange bustle around, and in the midst of it, this little moment of their acquaintance seemed to be completely different.

Sophia asked again,

What did you say you do?

James smiled softly and said,

Today is my first day at the university. I am a professor of history. This university has given me a job to teach history to students.

After a short pause, he said again,

If you give me permission, I would like to come to the library sometimes and read books. I really love reading books.

Sophia was a little surprised and said,

Oh! Is that so? So from now on, I will see you in the library regularly.

James said a little jokingly,

That will only be possible if you give me permission… and if you don't forget me!

Sophia laughed. Her smile stirred a strange stir in James's mind. A tender, unfamiliar feeling. James realized that there was something special hidden somewhere in this ordinary morning.

The two of them stood in silence for a while. All around was the sound of rain, the soft melody of water droplets falling on the leaves of the trees, as if nature itself had become a companion to their silent conversation.