Landslide

If I was only a little bit more heartless, I would have walked away from the bar and avoided any further encounter. Yet I was sitting there on the seat tearily, and staring at this emotional cry out from the stage. Next to me was my wife. She knew of the story, but she didn't know anything beyond that. At least, I convinced myself that she knew nothing.

From the stage came a voice that introduced her next song, "I am sure all of you have heard of this song", said the singer. "My Mom used to sing this song to me. And even though I have never heard of Stevie in my childhood, I have heard enough to learn this song. To my mother, this song means as much as I to her. Without the man who taught her this song and saved her from the street, I wouldn't be here. And my beloved Mother wouldn't have given us a chance to survive this long. Even though we are never to see him and thank him again, I wish he is living well somewhere in the world. This song is for him, from my Mother and I".

She plucked the guitar, and the song began to dance around the hall.

"I took my love, I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
'Till the landslide brought me down

Mirror in the sky, What is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

I don't know...

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too
I'm getting older too

So take this love, take it down
If you climb a mountain and turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide bring it down

And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide bring it down
Oh the landslide bring it down...."

This wasn't from Stevie Nicks. This came from a young woman whose emotion just affected the whole room. While she was singing, the club was quiet enough that a cough could sound like a thunder. Her voice was clear and convincing. Her feeling made every word in the song alive. Until the end, her crys had brought tears in my eye. For others, applause and cheers didn't express how much they have been affected by her feelings.

In the end of the song my hands are held by my loved one who sat next to me speechlessly. Her eyes were holding thoughts back, but I didn't know what it was. Until we were leaving, she went to pick up the car and left me alone in the club. I took the chance and looked at the young singer. She was looking at me from far away with a smile on her face as if she recognized me. She then nodded to me, and then waved. Her face covered by a fulfilling smile. And I puzzled. Did she really recognized me? And how?

On the way back to our home, I was quiet and distant. After a few turns, my dear wife pulled up to the driveway and stopped. "It has been about twenty years, hasn't it"? She asked. While I was shaking my head, she continued with her words, "by the square an underage girl was pregnant and was abandoned my the father and her family. She was given up her life, but was saved and taken into a shelter by a traveling business man".

"You knew this"? My eyes were opened wide in shock.

"She survived herself and the child in her belly. By that time his one year business exchange ended. He returned to San Francisco to his own family. Monthly, he supported the Mother and her daughter for years. Until about six years later, they have gone missing again. His checks were returned much to his displeasure. The daughter later came to California for school, and had been singing around Berkeley at night. She has been looking for the person who saved she and her Mother's life and gave them reasons to live. Her Mother told her that she could find him around the Bay, but suggested her not to".

She looked me in the eyes while speaking all these words. I was nervous, shaky, and uncomfortable. In the end, she moved over to my side and kissed me. With a smile, I understood everything that she did tonight was for me. I understood the reason that we went to Berkeley for acoustic night; I understood the reason she held my hands after the song; and I understood the reason she went to pick up the car herself. I shook my head with my eyes closed, and felt her hand caressing my trembling face.

"I hope you would forgive me for what I did tonight. But I just thought that young girl deserved a chance to meet with you - the one who made her. She deserved a chance to thank you".

I laid myself in her arms helplessly. Warmth of her heart was keeping me comfortable as ever. I didn't say anything. I didn't think anything needed to be said.