I've been going through my old documents, and I found this short piece I'd written :) I hope you enjoy it! I was probably about 15-16 when I wrote it. It's unedited...
* * * *
A log in the hearth thumps down as the ones beneath it burns away into nothingness, sending out a burst of warmth into the dark room. The girl on the chair concentrates on the heat of the fire, trying to block out the line of throbbing pain on her cold cheek and the gentle movement around it. The trickle and drip of water as the other one rings out the cloth into the metal bowl, being so careful. The girl being nursed sighs and looks as though she is going to shout, or cry, or both. Mixed emotions cross her face.
(I’m sat in the huge room, on a chair, what a luxury, and she’s washing the wound. I didn’t mean to get to get so carried away, if only I’d been more careful, I swear I don’t know what came over me…ah!)
A look of guilt passes over the face of the other one as she catches the edge of the gash with the cloth.
“Ella, I’m so sorry. I…”. She gives up, looks at the floor, then raises her face to look at her face, wincing as her gaze falls on the red shining line running down the side of the pale, slender face, framed with a violent purple bruise, as though she is witnessing the whole event again.
Ella comes out of her contemplation of the fire, looks into her companion’s eyes for a moment, then looks at the hearth quickly again as tears threaten in her eyes, rendering her unable to reply, making the cut sting again as the muscles in her face tense as she tries not to cry.
(I can see my reflection in her eyes, shining unusually brightly for the lack of light in here. I have such tired eyes for someone my age. I could be sixty if you saw nothing else)
Hesitating, she turns back, and the girls look softly at each other, forgetting everything for a moment. Emotions build like cloud between them, so thick that you could just reach out and touch…
Ella’s companion turns suddenly, too panicked to gasp or whimper, and too experienced to cry out aloud. The door shakes slightly as someone approaches and starts to whisper open.
(I don’t think creaking doors would be allowed in this house- too inefficient. Sometimes the silence can be beneficial, but good luck comes so rarely these days)
Ella doesn’t bother to look up; the outcome will be the same whoever is behind the door. Her companion, however, is staring at it as though what lurks behind it is a semi-tamed wild animal; beautiful and vicious.
(I should just give up now.)
“Ella… what are we… there’s no other way, I don’t know what to do”. She stares at the slight girl next to her. “I don’t want to hurt you”
(There’s no other way)
“Talk to me!”
She is pleading, and can sense Ella weakening. Ella opens her mouth…
* * * *
No comments:
Post a Comment