Belief
Lucy couldn't sleep with the guilt that was gnawing her conscience. Picking up the lantern from her bedside, she walked up to her mother’s room ready to confess and ask for forgiveness.
She noiselessly opened the door and crept inside. While her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room, her gaze got locked with her mother’s and tears unknowingly rolled down her cheek. The sardonic grin plastered on her mother’s countenance sent a shiver down her spine.
‘Has the witch really captured her soul? Does she recognize me?’ Lucy wondered. ‘It’s my fault entirely, why is she to suffer? All my prayers went unanswered.' Thoughts that had been disturbing her came back with a vengeance. She walked ahead to reach the bedside.
As soon as she touched her mother’s feet, the witch groaned back through the clenched jaw. Her mother started convulsing. Her back arched into a bow, and she made rasping sounds to gasp back some air which was being pulled out of her lungs. Terrified, Lucy stifled a scream and sprinted back into her room, bolting her door from inside. Her own heartbeat started pacing at the speed of a train she had once seen.
Even her favorite teddy could give no solace to her and she cried herself to sleep. After that day she never dared to visit her mother again. ‘Because of you the witch was released from the gap. If only you hadn't taken the shorter route to school that day. At least you could have been careful with her steps’ her conscience pricked her now and again.
The witch has housed her mother’s soul, her father had explained and so she was isolated from the tribe to die as per fate. She wished she could tell the truth to her father, but she was too scared.
Finally, she confessed to her best friend at school.
“Oh! Lucy” her best friend exclaimed, “Why did you have to take the shorter route? Didn't you hear the stories of the evil spirit laying there and upon that you…”
“I know” Lucy cut him in “I was late for school or else I wouldn't have; but when I reached home, Mom was absolutely fine. So, I thought…. keeping the fingers crossed had worked” she went silent. “The witch was dormant for a week” she revealed tearfully.
Brian had then promised to find out a way and next day he informed her that there was a miracle man who lived on the other side of the river, atop the highest mountain peak. Brian's father had confided that the miracle man was the only one who could help. She decided to take the journey to reach the miracle man on her own.
Reaching home she left a note for her father who had gone to work in their farm, without mother he was having a tough time handling things. Wrapping some food for herself she set to catch the last ferry to the mountains.
She held a four leafed clover tightly clenched in her fist throughout the journey, praying to almighty to guide her way. By the time she climbed the mountain to reach her destination, the sun had set.
She gently knocked on the door. She stood there pondering if she was at the right place, when an elderly gentleman opened the door.
“What brings this young lady here?” he asked endearingly.
“Are you the miracle man?” she asked perplexed.
He guffawed at her innocence and replied cheerfully “It’s a nice epithet, but you can call me doctor.” Sensing that it didn't ease her tension, he gently probed “Come in. How can I help you dear?”
His burly physique and white flowing beard which covered his neck reminded her of Santa Claus and she mentally nicknamed him Doctor Claus. Walking in, she made herself comfortable on the couch. There was a pretty looking girl of her age playing with her toys in one corner, normally she would have joined her, but today was different.
A lady arrived with cookies and milkshake and Lucy’s stomach growled in approval. She ate with her left hand still clenching onto the clover leaf in her right fist.
The pretty girl soon left her toys and joined them for the treat.
“This is Erica, my grandchild” the doctor introduced “and that is nurse Belinda, my daughter” he said pointing at the lady who had brought in the tray of goodies.
“And you?” Erica extended her hand. “Lucy” she replied shaking it. The clover fell down and Lucy hastily picked it up.
The doctor smiled at Belinda as she joined them.
“I come from the other side of the river” Lucy explained.
“Oh! The land of superstitions” Belinda exclaimed and the doctor shot her a disparaging look.
“I..well..” Lucy swallowed hard “I stepped on a Crack” she blurted out and looked down to hide her guilt.
“Did it break your mother’s back?” Erica chimed in a sing-a song voice.
And Lucy started sobbing. “Erica! Look what you did!” the doctor chided. He gestured Belinda to take Erica inside.Moving near Lucy he consoled her till she regained her composure. “Start from the beginning” he prodded gently.
Lucy narrated the entire incident to him. After listening to her story, “Sounds like acute tetanus” he muttered to himself.
“I think we can save your mom if we reach her in time” he replied smiling down at her. “Let me pack my miracle drugs and we’ll take a journey back to your home.”
Lucy gave him a warm smile of gratitude and subconsciously praised the Lord.
**********************
(Brainstorming in the work room, helped me while writing this entry, so thanks to the people from work room..:) I am keeping my fingers crossed that you'd like this entry and would eventually vote for me..;) ( Link : http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/730957.html ; Details : Tribe 1, 18th from top, eternal_ot) And btw, I really enjoyed the interactions on my entry last time, so looking forward to feedback and concrit as well..:) )
She noiselessly opened the door and crept inside. While her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room, her gaze got locked with her mother’s and tears unknowingly rolled down her cheek. The sardonic grin plastered on her mother’s countenance sent a shiver down her spine.
‘Has the witch really captured her soul? Does she recognize me?’ Lucy wondered. ‘It’s my fault entirely, why is she to suffer? All my prayers went unanswered.' Thoughts that had been disturbing her came back with a vengeance. She walked ahead to reach the bedside.
As soon as she touched her mother’s feet, the witch groaned back through the clenched jaw. Her mother started convulsing. Her back arched into a bow, and she made rasping sounds to gasp back some air which was being pulled out of her lungs. Terrified, Lucy stifled a scream and sprinted back into her room, bolting her door from inside. Her own heartbeat started pacing at the speed of a train she had once seen.
Even her favorite teddy could give no solace to her and she cried herself to sleep. After that day she never dared to visit her mother again. ‘Because of you the witch was released from the gap. If only you hadn't taken the shorter route to school that day. At least you could have been careful with her steps’ her conscience pricked her now and again.
The witch has housed her mother’s soul, her father had explained and so she was isolated from the tribe to die as per fate. She wished she could tell the truth to her father, but she was too scared.
Finally, she confessed to her best friend at school.
“Oh! Lucy” her best friend exclaimed, “Why did you have to take the shorter route? Didn't you hear the stories of the evil spirit laying there and upon that you…”
“I know” Lucy cut him in “I was late for school or else I wouldn't have; but when I reached home, Mom was absolutely fine. So, I thought…. keeping the fingers crossed had worked” she went silent. “The witch was dormant for a week” she revealed tearfully.
Brian had then promised to find out a way and next day he informed her that there was a miracle man who lived on the other side of the river, atop the highest mountain peak. Brian's father had confided that the miracle man was the only one who could help. She decided to take the journey to reach the miracle man on her own.
Reaching home she left a note for her father who had gone to work in their farm, without mother he was having a tough time handling things. Wrapping some food for herself she set to catch the last ferry to the mountains.
She held a four leafed clover tightly clenched in her fist throughout the journey, praying to almighty to guide her way. By the time she climbed the mountain to reach her destination, the sun had set.
She gently knocked on the door. She stood there pondering if she was at the right place, when an elderly gentleman opened the door.
“What brings this young lady here?” he asked endearingly.
“Are you the miracle man?” she asked perplexed.
He guffawed at her innocence and replied cheerfully “It’s a nice epithet, but you can call me doctor.” Sensing that it didn't ease her tension, he gently probed “Come in. How can I help you dear?”
His burly physique and white flowing beard which covered his neck reminded her of Santa Claus and she mentally nicknamed him Doctor Claus. Walking in, she made herself comfortable on the couch. There was a pretty looking girl of her age playing with her toys in one corner, normally she would have joined her, but today was different.
A lady arrived with cookies and milkshake and Lucy’s stomach growled in approval. She ate with her left hand still clenching onto the clover leaf in her right fist.
The pretty girl soon left her toys and joined them for the treat.
“This is Erica, my grandchild” the doctor introduced “and that is nurse Belinda, my daughter” he said pointing at the lady who had brought in the tray of goodies.
“And you?” Erica extended her hand. “Lucy” she replied shaking it. The clover fell down and Lucy hastily picked it up.
The doctor smiled at Belinda as she joined them.
“I come from the other side of the river” Lucy explained.
“Oh! The land of superstitions” Belinda exclaimed and the doctor shot her a disparaging look.
“I..well..” Lucy swallowed hard “I stepped on a Crack” she blurted out and looked down to hide her guilt.
“Did it break your mother’s back?” Erica chimed in a sing-a song voice.
And Lucy started sobbing. “Erica! Look what you did!” the doctor chided. He gestured Belinda to take Erica inside.Moving near Lucy he consoled her till she regained her composure. “Start from the beginning” he prodded gently.
Lucy narrated the entire incident to him. After listening to her story, “Sounds like acute tetanus” he muttered to himself.
“I think we can save your mom if we reach her in time” he replied smiling down at her. “Let me pack my miracle drugs and we’ll take a journey back to your home.”
Lucy gave him a warm smile of gratitude and subconsciously praised the Lord.
**********************
(Brainstorming in the work room, helped me while writing this entry, so thanks to the people from work room..:) I am keeping my fingers crossed that you'd like this entry and would eventually vote for me..;) ( Link : http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/730957.html ; Details : Tribe 1, 18th from top, eternal_ot) And btw, I really enjoyed the interactions on my entry last time, so looking forward to feedback and concrit as well..:) )