Pulling the knife out, she heard a swooshing sound and jumped. With a final look around, she walked out the door. The rusty hinges creaked as if to say goodbye. It was way past midnight and the clouds seemed lower than normal. Kind of ominous in a way, yet inviting at the same time. She made her way forward into the night.

Her red hair flowed now like her tears, freely. It didn't much matter anymore of the consequences. She heard it all before and quite frankly, this time, didn't give a damn. The sound of her heels as they hit the concrete, soothed her in a way with the click-clacking of soles as they announced the greeting of each foot step.

This time would be the last time! If she didn't do something to make a difference, well, there may not be a next time. Walking toward her car, memories shot out, like sudden stars skipping across the skies in her livid mind.

All she could think of was betrayal. What a disaster! Completely! This woman who called and poured out her heart and soul. And everytime captivation sang loud dropping hints of glimpses to fill in the missing spaces, laying there exposed. With each new bit of information offered, a compulsion to help began to taunt common sense. Approaching dangerous territory, she pressed ever forward.

'What a fool I was!'

It was all she could think as her footsteps became faster with each racing thought.
Turning the corner to her car, she stopped for a moment and reflected...

Elise was in her late thirties, still looking for that, 'whatever' to make her life right. A redhead, standing five feet nine inches, she had a body most women would die for, most men lose their minds over and maybe something else. The only girl in a family of brothers and no sisters, she grew up with a dream. A fantasy actually, of a mother. A real mom who loved and encouraged her. Someone who was there, come rain or shine. Someone she could count on not to leave.

'Good luck with that!' came a voice from somewhere uncertain.

'What a fool I've been!' Elise couldn't help but scream into the night breeze.
'And to think she cared, ha!'
'All this pomp and circumstance'
'Spend time with me and then just disappear!'
She reached into her bag.

'Just what I need, right here!'

And with that she reached for the knife. Glancing around to make sure no one was following, she felt again for the lighter. The clouds dipped a little lower around her shoulders as if to protect her from prying eyes. They remained without judgment, but rather committed to protecting this angel face who surely dropped from the stratosphere, based on the purity of her heartbeat or was it?.

02/25/2007

Author's Note: a work in progress... any suggestions welcomed.

Posted on 02/25/2007
Copyright © 2024 Alisa Js