What the Butterflies Witnessed
Earlier that morning when he stepped outside of the five-story college dormitory he’d been calling home for the last three and a half years, Jonah was trying to convince himself to skip the planned field trip, even though Professor Munoz was his favorite teacher.
The wintry weather felt more brutal than brisk, which was the way the weather app on his phone had described the plummeting icy temperatures.
His jacket felt thin and his black knitted scarf kept rubbing against his unshaven face, adding to his growing agitation.
Longing to return to the overheated dorm room upstairs and spend the rest of the day feeling more unsure about his post-college future, Jonah decided he needed to show up and experience what Professor Munoz had promised would be a transformative experience.
He found his way to the subway station, boarded a train, changed trains downtown, and arrived at the glass-domed butterfly conservatory nearly an hour later.
Relieved to see the familiar faces of his classmates, he nodded and smiled when they greeted him. Most were clutching to-go cups of coffee, while one of them reeked like cheap whiskey.
I’d be happy with either right now, Jonah thought.
“Hello, Jonah,” Professor Munoz said when she saw him.
Her voice was always warm and had a maternal quality to it.
This only made Jonah miss his mother even more, even though she’d been gone for over three years.
At least she’d made it through chemo long enough to be there when his acceptance letter arrived.
“I’m so proud of you,” she’d said when he read the letter aloud to her, sitting next to her bed in the overly lit room in the otherwise gloomy hospice.
Leaving her and his hometown to start his new journey in college had been the most difficult decision he’d made up to that point in his life. And since her death, nothing else could compare, or even seem to matter as much.
“Did you finish reading the story?” Professor Munoz asked.
She was on the move, leading the eleven students to the main entrance of the architecturally stunning building.
Jonah had to quicken his usual leisurely pace to keep up with her.
Considering she was a petite woman, Jonah was surprised by how fast she moved.
“I did,” he said. “I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite Kafka piece.”
Stopping in her tracks, the professor turned to him. “Oh? Which one is your favorite?”
Jonah didn’t pause before responding with, “The Judgment. I guess you could say it spoke to me in a way, much more so than The Metamorphosis.”
“I’m surprised to hear you say that,” Professor Munoz said. “That story is about a father and son. From what you’ve shared with me, your father isn’t a part of your life.”
“I never met him,” Jonah explained. “It was always just me and my mother. Until a few years ago.”
Turning away from their conversation, Professor Munoz shifted her attention to the other students. “Everyone, once we’re inside, I encourage you to view the emergence window. If we’re lucky, you might bear witness to an actual metamorphosis occurring.”
At first, the warm, humid air inside the lush conservatory was a welcome relief.
Yet, within a couple of minutes of breathing in the tropical air, Jonah unknotted his scarf and unzipped his jacket.
Despite his reluctance to be there, he had to admit the atmosphere was nothing short of wonderful.
Surrounded by leafy tropical plants and flowers and trickling waterfalls, Jonah felt like he was walking through an enchanted sanctuary, an escape from the outside chilly world.
Following the cement pathway that cut through the conservatory, Jonah was at once in awe of the many butterflies surrounding him, some even fluttering past his cheeks.
I kinda wish I could stay here forever.
Happy he made the decision to follow through and be a part of the field trip, Jonah grinned at the enchanting environment as he rounded a soft curve in the path, recognizing the wash of joy he felt. It was an unfamiliar feeling, given the somberness of the last few years. Yet, it was invigorating.
Johnah came to a sudden stop, halted by the breathtaking view in front of him. It wasn’t another blue butterfly; it was a dark-haired man who looked to be close in age. The nametag he wore identified him as Eli.
Cracking a smile and trying to hold back laughter, Jonah said. “Your glasses are fogged up. How can you see to do your work?”
Eli slipped off his spectacles and wiped them with an edge of the khaki-colored uniform he was wearing. When the man blinked, Jonah couldn’t help but recognize the beautiful shade of green that Eli’s eyes were. “Job hazard,” Eli said with a soft smile. “It happens all the time.”
With a sudden surge of courage, Jonah stepped forward. “I’m Jonah.”
Eli seemed to welcome the connection, indicated by the kind smile he offered in response to the introduction. “Hi, Jonah,” he said. “I’m Eli.”
“Yeah, your nametag,” said Jonah. “It says Eli.”
Eli glanced down and said, “I always forget I’m wearing that thing.”
“What do you do here?” Jonah asked, not wanting their conversation to end.
“I’m an entomology technician.” There was pride in Eli’s words. It was evident he loved his job.
Who wouldn’t love working in a place like this?
“I have no idea what that is, but it sounds cool,” Jonah said, still grinning. Not sure if it was because of Eli or the humidity, but Jonah’s face felt warm.
“Are you here for school?” Eli asked.
“I am. We read The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, and our teacher wanted us to see the real thing.”
“Nice,” Eli said. Their eyes met then and something silent was shared.
The two young men took a deeper look at one another.
In his inquisitive stare, Jonah saw a flicker of curiosity in Eli’s pretty eyes.
The expression only drew him in more. Eli took a step closer.
Aware of how close their bodies were, Jonan felt his pulse quicken and a thin layer of sweat start to form on the back of his neck. “So have you?” Eli prompted.
“Have I what?” Jonah asked.
“Have you seen the real thing?” Eli asked. “A metamorphosis?”
Jonah gave Eli’s words some thought. “That sounds like a deep question.”
“I hope it wasn’t too forward,” Eli offered. There was an apology in his tone. “I’m surrounded by butterflies all day and sometimes my communication with humans can be…lacking.”
“I feel like a lot is changing…with me.”
It seemed Eli’s curiosity was piqued. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, like I’m turning into a different version of myself. I’m trying to leave some old stuff behind so I can move forward…in a different direction.”
“It sounds like you’re in the chrysalis stage,” Eli noted.
Jonah nodded. “If you say so.”
“It’s okay,” Eli said, his words now a gentle whisper. Their conversation had taken an intimate turn, like they were close friends sharing personal thoughts about everything and everyone. This only intensified the waves of joy Jonah felt. “I am, too.”
To Jonah’s surprise, a bright blue butterfly landed on the sleeve of his jacket. In awe of the sudden appearance of such a beautiful thing, Jonah felt something inside of him switch on, like a light.
“You have to make a wish,” Eli said. “Whenever a butterfly lands on you, it’s considered a form of luck, so you’re supposed to make a wish.”
Glancing at the soft allure of Eli’s mouth and, wondering what it would be like to kiss such a beautiful man, Jonah answered with, “Okay.” Jonah turned back to the butterfly and then looked to Eli again and said, “I will, if you will.”