The Puddle

 Summer has come to the City. It appeared on Monday, suddenly as always, following bright and juicy May. Summer started performing its duties immediately: it heated the roofs of the houses and sidewalks of the City, melted the Sky, scattered the birds and smiled at the world with a red playful Sun.
 It often happens that when you energetically get down to business then, after a while, there comes the desire to give up everything and take a rest. This is what happened with Summer. It decided to distance itself from its summer affairs. It settled over the warm southern Sea and began to observe it. The Sea was pleased with such attention. It responded to Summer  with splashes of waves and Summer picked up this moisture and carried it to the Sky creating delicate snow-white clouds. And then the summer Wind drove these clouds according to the summer schedule each to its own station...
The City lived far from the sea and waited for the Rain. And the Rain appeared at last. It was young, mischievous summer Rain. At first, it tasted shyly the City with his drops, and then it poured and started with might and main flooding the city with freshness. The Rain was well-mannered and, therefore, having completed its task, with drew taking the silver streams of its drops. And the City, breathing freshness, smiled at the departing Rain with clean windows of houses and cheerful greenery...
 And at this time in the city park, next to one of the shops, the Puddle was born. She began emerging with the first drops falling on the ground but she finally became herself only when the Rain was going to leave the City. The Puddle smiled at the Rain taking her sisters and brothers Raindrops to some new places.“Well, I think, I'd better stay here,” thought the Puddle. And “here” was not a bad place enough: the juicy greenery of the park, a path of yellow sandstone, a shop ... The Puddle was rather curious and decided to get to know herself and the place where she stayed better.
“Life is arranged in a very interesting way,” the Puddle thought. “Not long ago I was the Sea, then the Cloud and now I am the Puddle,” she said to the sparrows who, listening to her, were splashing in the warm water. The sparrows chirped happily washing away the city dust. They did not understand the Puddle because their whole life had passed within the City. They were accustomed to rooftops, parks, telegraph wires, puddles on the sidewalks, and the Sea ... The Sea was very far away. Having swum in the Sea to the heart’s content, the sparrows flew away about their business and the Puddle was left alone again but not for a long time. A dog running past stopped to take a breath and drink some water. The dog bent its head towards the Puddle. Its reflection looked at the dog from the Puddle. The dog's eyes were intelligent. “This is who can understand me,” decided the Puddle.
 - Hello, I am the Puddle-Sea.
 - Hello - answered the dog.
 - I used to be the Sea and I still remain the Sea - continued the Puddle - Have you ever seen the Sea?
 - No, no - the dog barked - I see that you are the Puddle and I’m drinking from you but I’ve never seen the Sea in my life.
Unfortunately, their dialogue finished with these words. It was not clear to the Puddle why those whom she talked to, did not know about the Sea. She was thinking about it basking in the rays of the Sun that peeped out and was gradually melting.
At this very time, while she was reflecting, a grandmother with her grandson appeared near the shop. The grandmother decided to relax on the bench while the naughty little boy was exploring the surroundings around the shop. "Oh, the Sea!" - exclaimed the little boy."Yes, I was the Sea and I still remain the Sea"- answered the Puddle.
 - Yes, you are my Sea, and I am the Captain and now I will lead my ship through your waves!
 - And here is my ship - said the kid picking up a piece of bark lying nearby. The Mischievous Breeze, noticing this game, rushed over the surface of the Puddle making some waves.
 - Oh, the waves! - the boy shouted joyfully - Now you are the real Sea!
 - Yes, I am the real Sea! - the Puddle was very delighted.
So, they played in such a way: the Puddle was the Sea, sometimes calm, sometimes stormy with high waves, and the brave little boy was leading his ship to the desert islands. This is how they created their Reality “here and now”. Soon, after having a good rest, the grandmother took the boy and they went away…
 – Goodbye, Sea - shouted the kid.
 - Goodbye, Captain! - answered the Puddle. She knew that they would meet in the future...
 How important it is to be always here, appreciate every moment and always stay yourself. The Puddle thought in such a way. You should just be yourself without hypocrisy, remember who you are from the very beginning, where you came from, and what traits you have.
The day went on, the Puddle was melting. She reflected the sky with swallows rushing in it. And suddenly a sad look appeared in this reflection. A man sat down on the bench. He looked like he got lost. He looked at the sky first, then at the path of the park going into the distance, then at his own hands, and fixed his gaze on the Puddle. Looking at his own reflection, he shuddered, then sighed heavily.
“Hello,” said the Puddle to him.
 The man shuddered again, looked around but couldn’t see anyone. Then he plunged into his own thoughts.
 - Hello - repeated the Puddle - I am the Sea, and who are you?
 - I guess I'm going crazy - said the stranger.
 - No, you're OK. It's me, the Puddle-Sea and I'm talking to you.
 - I'm definitely going crazy, puddles are talking to me - said the man.
He turned his gaze to the Puddle and saw his own reflection there again.
 - You are not going crazy. I am in front of you. I am talking to you. If you want, you can tell me your story. For example, I am the Sea. I was the Sea and now I am still the Sea. Every drop of mine is the Sea.
 “I don’t know who I am now. Even in the morning I considered myself to be happy and everything was perfect. I am in love with a Woman and it seemed to me that our feelings were mutual but a few hours ago she told me that we were parting. And now there is emptiness in my Soul, I do not know who I am, why I am here ...
 - You are here and it is not by chance- said the Puddle. Accidents are not accidental. We were destined to meet. All in all, each of us has his own story which can be interesting and useful.
 - Here I am, the Sea, and I have always been the Sea. I feel great contact with the Sea, its depth, all the emotions that the Sea experienced are transmitted to me. Because water is an important storage of information and all the information is transmitted through water from object to object. That's why you hear me, because you consist of water on three-quarters. All objects that have at least one drop of water are linked into one information network. Therefore, I do not feel lonely because I am reflected in every drop of water that is nearby and it is in me.
 - Everything is different with people - said the man. We make families, communities and at the same time we can be lonely within our families and communities. We are often divided by our Choice.
 - And what is the Choice? - asked the Puddle - I do not have this, every drop of mine knows and remembers that it is the Sea. I know that I am far from it right now but I will return to its native depths, I do not feel detachment from the Wholeness.
 - Well, everything you’ve just mentioned is quite right. Very often people give up their heritage making a Choice. Making decisions and acting according to these decisions, playing a particular role in Life seem to be very important for us.
 - How is it possible to give up your heritage? And what does it mean to play a particular role? All in all, it is important always be yourself, every moment of your Life. Just be yourself.
 - It is more complicated with people - answered the man - You, as a particle of Water, live in Harmony with Nature, so everything is natural for you and we have been given a Choice. We can decide who to be.
Then the Puddle remembered the kid who was sure he was a real Captain.
 - Listen, who are you now? - she turned to the stranger.
 - I don’t know exactly. On the one hand, I’m just a man but, on the other hand, I feel emptiness inside me.
 - That cannot be true - answered the Puddle - this is not emptiness, this is your Depth which you used to be from the beginning. After all you can always turn to this Depth for help as I turn to the depths of the Sea when I am far from it.
 - You think so? - said the man.
 - Yes, I think so. Moreover, I know that it should be done. You will succeed  - smiled the Puddle.
 The man smiled sadly, waved his hand to the Puddle and walked down the path deep into the park. “People are very strange creatures. They tangle their Life, make problems, create artificial rules and laws instead of just being themselves. To live in harmony with the world around them” - the Puddle reflected. The day turned into evening. It was already dark. And the stars began appearing in the windows of their heavenly houses.
 - Hello, Sea! - they shouted to the Puddle.
 - Hello, Stars! - answered the Puddle.
 The stars knew that the Puddle had always been the Sea. They were mature and had seen a lot in their life time...
The night passed quickly as a summer night should be. And in the morning the Sun guided its rays towards the Puddle and, scooping it up in its sunny palms, put it on a small Cloud floating in the sky. The cloud moved towards the Sea and the Sun knew about it.
 - Goodbye, City - shouted the Puddle from above.
 - Goodbye, Sea - she heard a voice from the ground. This voice belonged to the yesterday's stranger.
 - I’ve done it!- he shouted to the sky - I remembered who I am, I am no longer alone, my Depth heard me, thank you, Sea! He waved his hand to the cloud, and until the mischievous Wind carried the cloud into the distance, he continued waving.
 - Do not forget who you are now! - shouted the Puddle from above.
 - Now I won't forget! - answered the man - I found my Sea!
 The Puddle smiled, there was one more Happy Person on the Earth...

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Translated by Sekretova M.A.