4
Apr
A hand swept across the earth, taking in a great plain, little more than weeds and dirt. “This was our home, once. A city stood there. It was stripped bare as the fire came. Those of us who fled remember the smell of burning, the screams of pain of all those who didn’t leave.” He pointed to the ground before him. Where he stood was lush grass. The next step was ash. “It swallowed the city, swallowed down my home, my family, my children. Then it stopped. There was no rain, no wind, no storm to drive the fire backwards. It just stopped.”
“But why?”
“Philosophers and sages will debate that for many centuries. Me, I don’t care. I can’t care, because the fire burned out my heart with it. It’s why I’m here, to see if saying goodbye can help me.” He slumped to the ground, eyes fixed to the far distance. “I never was good at saying goodbye, even just to go to market. Now I need to say a lifetime’s parting.”
His friend nodded, and set about making supper. Night fell, and he sat staring at the rising of the moon as his friend snored. Day broke, and he watched the red light of dawn recreate the terror of the fire.
A week passed as he sat there, only occasionally eating food he was proffered. His was a long goodbye, and he would speak it properly.
A pat on his shoulder. “I must go home. My family will be worried.” He nodded, clasping his friend’s hand briefly before returning to his task. The sound of departing feet did not cause him to look around.
He stood, thin and emaciated, his joints creaking. His friend was many days gone. He had at last finished saying goodbye. Now he would say hello.
A slow, trembling step took him into the burned lands, and another, and another, till he was striding towards the city of his birth. His feet struck sparks from the earth, and soon they caught on his clothing, the dry weave catching alight. He burned as he marched onwards, welcoming the fire as an old friend.
Comments
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L.M. Stull on 04.04.2011
Poignant and beautiful. Nicely done.
Jennifer Joseph on 04.04.2011
I lurk on here all the time so I thought I’d finally leave a comment. I enjoy your writing style and I don’t always comment but I visit frequently. 🙂
The Four Part Land on 04.05.2011
Thank you both for stopping by. Glad I was able to provide an uplifting pause in your day 🙂