Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: EERIE (07/28/16)
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TITLE: Soaring Today | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sherry Brock
08/02/16 -
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“I can do anything,” she says, pumping her fists high above her head, and depleting her lungs of air, in hopes folks in the valley hear her affirmation. “It's just the beginning,” she whispers, with fists crossed over her heart in a silent pledge to the person who's not there. A pledge to the one whose actions sent her on this journey.
One year ago today she discovered Marta dead in their apartment. A self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. “Oh, Marta, where did we go wrong?” she calls out. “Too many parties… no focus,” Lyla whispers, as she remembers their vow to live only in the moment. “We were rebels...or maybe just losers...everyone gave up on us...it was just you and me against the world, but then...you gave up too, Marta.”
Lyla's focus moves from the beautiful sights below to the magnificent heavens above. Clouds hang so close above her she feels the urge to check them for angels. “I love you Marta, and miss you always,” she thinks aloud as she pulls her cell phone from her backpack. “You would love this.”
She snaps several pictures of her surroundings and posts them on Instagram. “Soaring today,” she comments on the post, trying not to lose the momentum of her earlier triumph. Lyla carefully studies the posted image and notices something peculiar in the background. Her head snaps around to see a tiny rabbit lying in the brush.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, kneeling to its level. Lyla examines the small creature, while working to snap a picture, only to have a glint of light hit her eye. “What are you hiding little one?” she asks, straining her neck for a better view. A silver locket lies on the front paw of her new little friend. Lyla glances quizzically at the creature and their eyes meet.
Those little eyes lock onto hers, and a chill races down her back. Something unnatural grips Lyla's stomach, causing it to leap, and churn simultaneously. She closes her eyes and centers herself. It's only a split second, but when she opens them again, her little buddy is gone.
A strange sense of loss comes over her as she moves to retrieve the shiny object left behind. She suddenly remembers Marta's love of rabbits. “You drove me crazy cluttering our apartment with all those silly figurines, remember?” she says, bending, to pick up the locket. “I hated those things, but...” she continues, opening her hand to examine her find. Warm memories turn to frozen thoughts, though, when she sees the letter M stamped on the locket.
Her hand closes quickly, hiding its contents. “No,” she whispers, as her eyes dart in every direction. “Who's there? Where are you?” she says, voice cracking. Lyla turns to flee. Someone is playing a very cruel joke. A someone who knows Marta owned a locket just like this one, and was buried with it around her neck.
Tears flow as she turns to retreat, but through the tears, she sees the small creature cross her path again. It stares at her, for just a moment, before fleeing into the brush. Lyla stops, looks at her hand, and slowly opens it again. “This is my gift to you,” she says, even as she realizes the words are not her own. “I'm at peace...I want you to know I'm all right. Live your best life, Lyla,” she tells herself. “Don't let self doubt or old regrets hold you back any longer.”
Lyla, visibly shaken, closes her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, lifts up a prayer to her God. The words coming from her mouth, once again, are not her own. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit,” she says, reciting what sounds to her to be a verse from the Bible.
“Thank you, Lord,” Lyla says, finding her own words now, “for remembering me, for the message from Marta, and for the new life you've given me.”
She looks upward triumphantly; holds the locket high in her hand and declares, “Yes, oh, yes, we are soaring today.”
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