For a moment they spoke. For a moment they shared, alive in communion and presence, ephemeral in the lasting.
Spirit sensed, and something more, she moved to walk away in ascent of stairs behind. He watched her as she went; body’s movement, bend of knee, raise of leg and tone of straighten in her steps, change perspective and vantage as she climbed.
At half-bend, she paused in course and smiled turning back. It was smile not of a goodbye but of invitation and encourage for him to rise; to follow in her way, ascendant from the lowest plane, basest level, into heights and mysteries of above.
Time slowed and stilled, seeming longer than moment on ground floor, transcendent of space and limits.
Expression read, intention of invitation know, a something more of eyes as lips curled upward in their corners. She brushed away loose fall of hair, returning it to place. Last keeping of the look, then break, returning to movement and rise; hand to banister rail, sway of her aura, lovely in step and shift.
Heart panged in strain to follow and seek, ascend beyond the baseness of present life and place in seek of wonders to those who dared. He desired to follow. He desired to learn, to ascend, to seek, to know and learn mysteries in above; new levels, new planes, Beatific Vision—should he dare to follow, seek, and find.
He said a prayer, measured heart, then moved in act of faith. Desiring, willing, he followed upward in ascendance for the mystery.