The darkness surrounded her as she sat in the corner, knees drawn to her chest. Barely breathing, she looked around. Everything was in ruins. Desolation. Slowly she stood. Her tattered clothing offered no protection against the frigid air seeping through the seemingly endless cracks and holes. She shivered.
One bare foot placed in front of the other, she slowly made her way across the debris strewn room. Layers of peeling paint telling a lifetime of stories. The walls were talking. Whispering to her. She dragged her hand lightly along one wall, feeling years of emotions in the textures. She had to get out. The walls were whispering to her. Get out.
Quickly she moved along the wall trying to find a way out. Suddenly the wall was gone and she stumbled into another room. This room, too, was dark except for a single ray of moonlight shining through a hole in the roof. The moonlight illuminated a large mirror in a corner of the room. So beautiful, the mirror. So out of place in the dark desolation.
She walked across the room and stood in front of the mirror. She gasped. She could see her reflection, but the room behind her had been replaced. In it’s place was a winter wonderland. A beautiful waterfall fell softly into the pool below. Glistening snow gently covered the ground. A figure sat on a large rock near the edge of the water, mesmerized by it’s movement.
As if in a dream, she stepped toward the glass and through it. The snow was wet and cold on her feet. As she walked slowly toward the figure on the rock, the snow started melting. The air felt warm against her cold skin and suddenly everything was green and alive. The trees swayed in the breeze, dancing for her. She could hear the birds singing and the soft babbling of the water. Still the figure sat looking into the water.
The grass was soft under her feet as she made her way to the water’s edge. She stopped beside the rock and looked at the figure, he said nothing. She looked down into the water. She saw herself there. Gone were the tattered clothes. Instead, there was a beautiful flowing dress of green silk. Her hair was flaming with the sun. The emeralds in her eyes sparkled. Her reflection was smiling. For the first time in a long time.
She placed one foot in the water. So very cool and inviting against her skin. She stepped further into the water, the bottom of her dress turning dark. “You can’t swim”, he said from the rock. Moving toward the waterfall, the silky dress swirlingaround her, she said, “I know”.
LjMaxx, 6 months ago
Powerful sad & hopeful. Confused and determined. Scared and relieved. Your writing haunts me as do your images. I would rather her flowing dress of green silk remain dry and soft to the touch…
Ruby Del Angel in reply to LjMaxx’s comment, 5 months ago
thanks…and don’t worry, she’ll be ok :)