Tuesday, February 16, 2010

This Business of Jupiter

This is the eighth part of what will hopefully be a nine-part entry in the River of Mnemosyne challenge that’s going on over at The Tenth Daughter of Memory.

I love the rain, soft and cool in the quiet and the pale moonlight.

Sitting on the front porch, wrapped up in two sweaters and a wool hat, I listen to the stillness that comes after a short, furious shower and stare at the silver reflection coming off the mirrored surface of rain drops on pavement.

Out over the lake lightning flashes and I wait for the roll of thunder.

The storm won’t be here for a while yet.

Eyes closed, I settle more comfortably in my seat, legs stretched out, ankles crossed, and lift my face to the cool mist that’s carried on the breeze.

“Hey, Lib.”

My eyes drift open. I pull back my legs, sit up.

She’s standing right in front of me looking so much like I remembered it makes my heart hurt.

Her words are as soft and as gentle as the rain running down her face. “How are you doing?”

Brittle words pushed through a dry, tight throat break in my ear. “Why are you here?”

I breathe through the pressure in my chest. “It’s been a long time.”

“I’ve been here.” A sad smile bleeds across her lips. “You didn’t want to see me.”

I reach a hand toward her; stop, let it drop. “Didn’t seem much point.”

She tilts her head and the shadows on her face shift. “Don’t be like that, Libby.”

I blink against the mist in my eyes. “Why not?”

Her eyes soften with sorrow. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

I breathe deep and exhale; a harsh, jagged sound that slashes the stillness. “Why not?”

“Because I love you and I want you to be happy.”

A last lesson to me; I should be taking notes.

“I love you, too.” My throat tightens on words that turn to ash on my tongue. “You have to go now.”

12 comments:

  1. "You have to go now."

    Oh. My. God. I have to stop reading you first thing in the morning. You damn near broke my heart.

    "I've been here...you didn't want to see me."

    Could there be any sadder words in the universe.

    The brevity in this is nice, you didn't need to go on and on to accomplish what you did. The dialogue was perfect and would probably be what I expected from a ghost/sister. (Don't have a sister.)

    Thank the Lord there's only one more day to this challenge. I love you but you're killing me.

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  2. You are so far along. I missed the beginning entries so I will comment on this later.

    Desires

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  3. There was a song, some time ago, that went "Killing me softly". I never understood the meaning of the words until today.

    Razor blades hidden in the gentleness of the raindrops and the softness of that voice.

    It hurts like hell, but there's no running away from this, it's too painfully beautiful to let go.

    Thank you.

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  4. I totally agree with Nymeria. 'Killing me softly'

    Beautifully written post :)

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  5. Another haunting post, Sarah Jayne. I wonder what is under all of the loss here.

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  6. Hi, Anne.

    Oh. My. God. I have to stop reading you first thing in the morning. You damn near broke my heart.

    Mea culpa. My bad. :) I'm sorry.

    The brevity in this is nice, you didn't need to go on and on to accomplish what you did. The dialogue was perfect and would probably be what I expected from a ghost/sister. (Don't have a sister.)

    Thank you. I seem to really be all about the shorter pieces lately. Maybe that's a function of the challenge. I'm glad you appreciate the dialogue. I don't have a sister or a ghost either. :)

    Thank the Lord there's only one more day to this challenge. I love you but you're killing me.

    I totally am with you on that. This thing has killed me. Tomorrow when I post the last of the muses, I am gonna do the happy, happy dance of joy.

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  7. Hey, Nym.

    That was a beautiful song, wasn’t it? And Lauren Hill’s voice was just so lovely and haunting. That you might see that in my work humbles me. Thank you for being you and for gifting me with your words.

    Hi, Wendy.

    Thank you so much for the lovely words.

    Hey Nessa.

    Take your time. :)

    Hi, Amy.

    Thank you so much. Amazing isn’t it, how such things are expressed?

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  8. Gotta love a little heartbreak. ;)

    Spelling edit: "lightning"

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  9. Hey, Jeff. Yeah, you do. And thanks for the edit. :)

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  10. If you're about to tell me that you do/did have a sister who passed away~ then do so gently--- the fics, themselves, have made me crack and I'm fragile, as it were.

    whoa.

    ttfn, susan

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  11. Hi, Nessa. Thank you so much for letting me know that. :)

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