Gentle breeze come over me.
Help me find my breath again.
The sweltering heat surrounds.
The salt rises to the surface of my skin
with each drop of sweat from my pores.
My muscles twitch without much work.
Recovery from my own neglect is hard.
However, I push onward, I must to survive.
She flicked her fingers, the sparks flew.
The dim room briefly lit up,
then quickly returned to dark.
She sighed a heavy sigh, loaded.
The cold emptiness of the room
Echoed through her soul.
She flicked her finger once more,
Lighting a distant candle with her spark.
Long casted shadows danced on the wall.
She watched them sway and move,
Bringing a moment of smiles to her lips.
For a brief time, she escaped her reality
To another place filled with hope.
The floor still rocks back and forth.
Yet, it is truly solid ground, there is no sway.
It has been days since the last clackity-clack.
The head is light, but the motion didn’t hit,
Until the earth stood still, and I stood upon it.
What is this odd sensation, why does it come?
And when will it finally leave?
Slumber is the only comfort, where I am free.
Hopefully it finally stills tomorrow….
Clackity-clack, sway away.
Sleep, save another day.
Like a slowly moving body inching closer,
Knowing when it arrives, devastation follows,
But knowing nothing will stop it’s movement.
I see it coming, this great collision,
And I fight it, I try to educate, but they refuse.
Knowing it all, they don’t listen, so I stop.
I have to step back and prepare to clean up
The mess, the chaos, the troubles they cause.
Clean up on aisle four!
The air clung like a sweat soaked tee to her skin.
It was pre-dawn, but she couldn’t tell for the heat.
The sun’s rays didn’t escape over night,
No cool breeze, only stillness mugged her.
Yet she pushed into the twilight, seeing the full moon behind the haze.
As the sun lit up the distant sky, the birds began their morning songs.
Still, she felt weighed down, as though she were walking through a swamp.
Soon, the plodding would be over though.
She picked up her steps as she rounded for home,
Where the cooling relief of AC waited.
Stirring away in a cluttered kitchen,
Metal bowls clanging away,
measuring spoons doing the same.
Chopping up the nectarines into cubes,
Sneaking in a couple of bites.
Pacing to the pantry, the fridge, and back,
Each trip either putting away something,
Or pulling out another ingredient.
Combining and mixing until just right,
Barely kneading the concoction into a ball.
Chilling and slicing, then laying them out.
The oven greets them with a warm hug;
Soon the house smells like a bakery,
And the timer buzzes with anticipation.
Making the glaze is a final step, and
A quick little drizzle, then they’re complete!
Fresh made vanilla glazed nectarine scones.
Tickle my tongue, just a sweet little taste,
Rich, creamy, dark chocolate as dark as night,
Swirled with banana sweet cream paste,
Chocolate chips sprinkled through just right,
and a ribbon of peanut butter for my waist.
Monkey Kiss, I can’t wait for my very first bite!
Tonight I keep trying to write, but I lack focus.
I start, I write a sentences or a phrase,
Then it no longer makes any sense.
Confusion clouds my tired mind,
Yet I did very little all day.
Exhaustion takes over and I wonder,
Is it time to sleep again?
Perhaps a good night’s sleep will restore this weary mind.
Sleep well.
Thunder pealed across the sky, rattling windows and startling those who dare sleep on such a stormy night.
She walked to the window and gently pulled back the shade. Blue and purple lightning danced across the blackened sky. As the flashes illuminated the dark, growing storm clouds blew up.
The winds picked up, slamming overhanging branches on the roof. A chill ran up the spine as a bolt struck the opposite edge of the lakeshore.
She rubbed her arms to comfort herself. Storms rarely bothered her, but this one was different. Goosebumps made her shiver once more.
Then, she felt his presence behind her. Warmth radiated from his body. He stepped closer and enveloped her in a hug. She suddenly felt safe in his arms.
He whispered softly in her ear, “Come back to bed.” Then he kissed the crook of her neck. He lowered his arms and took her hand, leading her back to their bed.
People huddled in the darkened store in small groups. The murmuring of hushed voices bounced around the building, words of different languages swirled about with no discernible rhythm.
Outside was filled with darkness and no one dared go out. The reason was not clear, but something was truly amiss. I stood alone to the side, observing the controlled chaos fear had brought down on us all.
Slowly, an older woman separated from a group of people. They all wore dusty and ragged clothes. As she approached, I noticed she had a small bundle in her arms.
“You….take,” the woman handed me the bundle.
As I looked down, I realized it was a small baby girl. Her dark hair framed her tender face. She stirred slightly, snuggling more into her swaddling.
“Mother, now,” the woman looked at me. A tear fell from her eye as she turned and shuffled away.
“Wait,” I called after her, “Where is her mother?”
She kept walking away, back to her group.
I neared the group. A man looked up, greyed with age. He simply replied, “Gone.” His ashen look betrayed what I feared. Her mother was a victim lost to the darkness.
“I can’t,” I pleaded as I tried to return the child. “I can’t take her.” Tears poured forth from my eyes, revealing my own shortcoming. “I am not worthy.”
The child began to coo in my arms and stir as she woke. Her warmth filled my heart with feelings I never had experienced before. But I trembled. This wasn’t right; I was no mother.
“She should be with family. Please.”
The aged woman looked at me, “You are family. We go now.”
With that, the woman and the rest of the group shuffled away in a strange walk. They left the store into the darkness.
I looked around and found a law man standing near by. I showed him the child. “What should I do?” I asked confusedly.
He drew in a breath and looked around. Then his dark eyes connected with mine, freezing me in my spot.
“There is no law. Raise her.” His eyes glanced at the darkness, then he slowly walked away from me. He circled the store, passing by me and bringing something each time.
First, a basket with formula and cloth diapers and diaper pins.
Onesies and a blanket. Then bibs.
A car seat. Bottles.
More with each loop.
Finally, he walked back to me. “This will get you started. Do you have a car?”
I looked hesitantly at the door, then back at the child. “The darkness…”
He looked me over. “She needs to eat. Let’s pay and take care of that.”
I stepped up to the register and the lady waved me off. “No sales. The darkness. Take what you need and do not worry,” she laid her hand on her heart. “Care for her; she is special.”
I shook my head agreeing while still in shock. Why am I being entrusted to raise this child? I am not worthy.
I laid the girl into the baby seat and prepared a bottle. She greedily took it as if she had not eaten in a while. I found a nearby bench near the door and took a seat with her.
Instinctively, I picked her up and lightly patted her back until she burped, then wiped her little mouth. Then I rocked her to sleep in my arms as time passed. Slowly I drifted off to sleep holding her tight.
The light pierced through the door, waking me from the darkness. I looked down at the comforter bunched up in my arms. Alas, she was just a dream, another reminder of a life not meant for me.
Dawn Renee Writes 