I usually don't write in this genre, so this was a way for me to expand my writing skills.Enjoy!
<b>Title:</b> Acceptance
<b>Genre:</b> General/Supernatural
<b>Rating:</b> PG
<b>Words:</b> 1,238
The young woman stared out the large Victorian-style window, a morose expression on her face. Outside, dark clouds blanketed the sky, thundering their rage, highlighting the sky, and drenching the earth with their sorrow. Rain, again. All she could think about in this weather was how much it reminded her of what had happened. The good, the bad, the elating, the devastating; plenty had occurred, and everything was firmly engraved in her memory.
Sighing, she silently walked back to the leather armchair and picked up her book. Stories of faraway places and alternate realities?they were just ways for her to temporarily forget the grueling task ahead. There was always something she had to do. Even now, when everything was radically different. Her expression darkened even more. Everyone knew things would never be the same, and yet everything continued on as if nothing had changed. She just couldn?t go through life pretending.
Now completely frustrated with the direction of her train of thought, she tried to refocus herself on the novel before her. From the moment she picked up its prequel at the local bookstore several months ago, she knew it had been the perfect choice. She had been completely enthralled by the complexity and depth of each of the characters. Settling down comfortably into her chair, she returned to the world of myth and mysticism.
Minutes turned into hours as she continued to devour the pages. The storm raged on, the wind battering the windows with soaked leaves and tiny branches. Aside from the occasional strike of lightning in the distance, a single lamp was the only illumination in the pitch-black room. As the hours went late into the night, she slowly succumbed to a deep, weary sleep.
??Nessa!? A hand was vigorously shaking her shoulder.
?Huh?? Disoriented, she tried to remember why she was sitting in her armchair and why Celtic names were running around in her head. Oh yes, she had been reading when she must have fallen asleep. That would explain why her neck was complaining.
?Nessa? You still asleep?? Her friend waved his hand in front of her face.
?Gargh!! I?m awake!? She shoved his hand away and pulled herself out of the seat, glaring at him. ?Dammit, couldn?t you have woken me up in a more?non-disruptive way, Theo??
He waved off her irritated look. ?You were sleeping like a rock,? he explained, subtly trying to spark a reaction from his longtime friend. Recent events had hit her hard, leaving her isolated from those close to her. ?I don?t even think a banshee could?ve gotten you to blink an eye.?
?Oh shut up!? She tried to look at him suspiciously, but the morning light was shining directly into her hazel green eyes. ?What are you doing in my house??
?Er? I have a key, remember? In case of emergencies??
?This isn?t an emergency.?
Theo nodded thoughtfully. ?True, but today?s important, and there?s no way you?re going to miss it.? He glanced at the clock on the wall by the door. ?It?s almost nine o?clock. If we don?t hustle, we?re going to be late.?
The faint smile illuminating her face vanished. She?d forgotten today was the day. ?Theo, I can?t do this.? Fear, mixed with a cocktail of other emotions, filled her eyes, causing her to freeze where she was. ?I can?t.?
?Yes you can.? He gently placed a hand on her arm and began leading her down the sunlit hallway towards her room. ?Get dressed. We?ll take it step by step.?
?I?I??
?Shh? Just go get changed. Then we?ll see how things go from there.?
Wordlessly, Nessa allowed herself to be led to her room. It was exactly the way she had left it yesterday: distant, cold, and emotionless. It spoke nothing of the tremendous downpour of emotions a week ago, when she had discovered the current source for her rapidly oscillating moods, yet it spoke volumes about her mindset at the time. She sighed silently. She was obligated to attend, but it didn?t mean that she <i>wanted</i> to go. Hadn?t she suffered enough?
?I?ll be waiting outside, all right?? Theo looked at his auburn-haired friend warily. ?Give me shout if you need anything, okay??
She nodded, and he quietly closed the door, leaving her standing in the austere room. Striding slowly towards her closet, she almost drew a blank on what was proper attire. The baby pink tank top and forest green flannel lounge pants she was wearing now definitely weren?t going to cut it. One, she would freeze in the cold winter air, and two, it was entirely inappropriate. Spotting exactly what she was looking for, she retrieved the items from their hangers and began changing. Re-entering the hall ten minutes later with a thick jacket, a scarf, and her purse, she reluctantly signaled that she was ready to go.
?So, I am I driving this time??
She gave him a look. ?I?ll drive. I can drop you off at your house when it?s over.?
?All right. That sounds fair.? He gave her a boyish grin. ?It?s freezing outside.?
?Isn?t it always this time of year?? She frowned. ?It?s not like I <i>want</i> to go.?
?Nessa??
?Look,? she began, cutting off his concerned look with an angry glance. ?For the past week, I have been in my own personal hell. What makes you think??
?Going may put some of those issues to rest,? he shot back. ?Staying here and moping isn?t going to help you at all.? His gaze softened. ?Nessa, I?m only trying to help. I know how much this is hurting you.?
She looked down, scuffing her sock-covered feet on the wooden floor. ?I know, Theo, I know. It?s just so hard.?
He gave her a comforting hug. ?It is,? he agreed quietly.
She exhaled slowly. ?All right. We need to go. It takes a good half hour to get there.?
Three hours later, she and Theo stood next to each other, only two of the many in attendance. The bitter winter air seemed to entrap everything, smothering the heartfelt sorrow shared by everyone present, and muting the rustle of windblown clothing. As most of the attendees finished paying their respects and departed for warm shelter, Nessa slowly approached, eventually reaching the destination she had avoided for so long.
Kneeling down to gently caress the cold stone, she gave a watery smile. ?Jenna...? Her vision blurred. ?God, I miss you. It?s been utterly miserable without you. Theo had to force me to leave the house today.? She chuckled softly. ?You know how stubborn I am?? She rose to her feet, lightly brushing off her pants. ?Bye, Jenna. I know I?ll see you again someday.? Smiling gently, she gazed at the silent marker one more time and slowly began the long walk back to her car. Theo was probably waiting for her.
?Nessa!?
She looked in the direction of the call. ?Diana!? Immediately, she enveloped the Asian woman in a hug. ?How are you doing??
Diana returned the hug, giving the redhead a small smile. ?Okay, considering. How about you??
Nessa smiled back. ?Yeah, same here.? Her smile turned wry. ?Well, actually, I felt absolutely horrible until today when Theo dropped by and convinced me that I should come.?
?Nessa,? Diana looked at her oddly. ?What are you talking about? Don?t you remember??
?What do you mean??
?That?s not possible. Theo died two years ago in a car accident.?
<i><center>~~FIN~~</center></i>
Comments?? I really appreciate honest, constructive feedback!!
Oh, oh, oh....Wow. Messages from beyond...very cool. 