A story...
Oct 20 '02
The Bottom Line Just because :-)
Yes...that is my title for it. Deal with it. My short stories generally are given very general titles. As do my poems. I'm not a title person.
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I sighed as my ladies carefully slipped the cloak over my shoulders. I knew that no matter how much I didn’t want to go through with this, I had no choice.
It had been decided. They couldn’t care less whether I wanted it or not—-whether it was what was best for me or not. What was best for our people…always what was best for our people…
I dismissed the girls with a wave of my hand and sat sullenly in my window seat. I looked dismally out and watched the squirrels chattering. How happy were they—why couldn’t I be that happy?
I heard a knock at my door. “Who is it?” I half-heartedly questioned.
“It’s me,” replied the voice.
The Voice. I knew that I couldn’t hide from her forever—that this was going to happen no matter what I did.
“Yes, m’Lady?”
“Are you about ready? We’d like to be on our way as soon as possible.”
“Can you give me a few moments, please? I’ll be out shortly.”
“All right…but hurry up, child—-they are awaiting you.”
I sighed and turned back to my window. I became suddenly restless. I stood and began madly pacing the room. I had to find a way out of it. I couldn’t go through with it-—I just couldn’t!
He loved me—I was certain of it. How was I to marry another when he loved me!
I couldn’t back out of this…no. The Lady would be so disappointed in me. She would never let me go through with that-—so much was riding on my marriage-—but I couldn’t go through with it, either.
Just then I found paper sitting on my desk, and a pen nearby. An idea came to me…
Dearest Lady:
I am so terribly sorry. This is not my destiny—-I don’t belong in this situation. Find another—-there must be another…one stronger than I to do this that you have asked of me. I’ve done all you asked of me until now. Please forgive me this one fault. I cannot marry him…not when my heart belongs to another…
May the gods bless and keep you.
All my love, always…
I folded the note and wrote her name across the front in a shaky calligraphy. I reached for the vial that hung always at my throat and removed the tiny cork. I heard the knocking at my door again, but ignored it as I carefully poured the contents of the vial down my throat. I laid back on my bed as I opened the locket that also hung there and stared sadly at the smiling faces within.
I loved you and you alone. I died long before this day-—I died the moment I found out that we could never be together…is it not better to speed this process along? Is it not better this way than force him to marry one already dead in heart and in soul? Forgive me, my love. I never meant harm to you…you can continue on without me. I wasn’t so terribly important, was I, really…? Goodbye, my love…goodbye…
I listened as the knocking grew more urgent and faded slowly away…and then…then it was over…
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Epinions.com ID:
littlelotte
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Member: Lindsay of the Pixies
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
My New Year's Resolution is to write more at Epinions.
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