Brigit's Flame, February, week 2
Title: The Last Draught of Lethe
Author: Keppiehed
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1248
Prompt: “Sorry”
A/N: Written for week #2 at brigits_flame. Still duking it out with my absentee Muse (if that's possible?). I think that's probably self-evident. :) Excuses, etc.
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses, to join Jul-
“I'm sorry, but there's been a mistake.”
Julie startled and dropped the scroll she'd been reading.
A woman wearing Grecian-style robes stooped to pick up the parchment. “No mortal is meant to view their own history. Kindly follow me. Thalia will entertain you while I sort this out.”
“Mortal?” Julie blinked and looked around. “I'm so confused. Where am I?”
“Mount Helicon, my dear,” the woman said. “I am Clio, the Muse of history. Did you not seek us out in order to sneak a glimpse of your future?”
“Uh … no. I don't know what you're talking about,” Julie said. “Mount where?”
“Oh, my. This is most irregular. I wonder if Hermes if playing tricks again.” Clio frowned. “I must consult with my sisters. Please, allow me to escort you to Thalia.”
Julie folded her arms. “I don't want Thalia.”
“Many people find comedy most enjoyable, but there is always Melpomene, if you prefer the tragedies-”
“I just want to go home. This is weirding me out!” Julie took a breath. “This feels like a dream.”
“Something is certainly different,” Clio agreed. “You seem disoriented. May I ask you what the last thing is you remember before you arrived at our hall?”
Julie paused. “I don't know. I can't remember anything.”
“That's odd. Very odd.” Clio tilted her head. “All you know is that you were reading your future?”
“That's right, it must be my future! I'm not married.” Julie smiled. “How far ahead was that? Can I just see who I'm going to marry?”
Clio held up a hand. “I'm sorry, no. As I mentioned before, mortals are not permitted to view their histories. The potential for disaster is … overwhelming, to say the least.”
“Disaster? But how could it hurt to know who I'll marry if I'm going to marry him anyway?” Julie asked.
“I am not at liberty to say,” Clio said.
“Can't you just give me a hint?” Julie asked. “Could you tell me his first name? The month I meet him? Come on, what's it to you? You've got it right there in your hands!”
Clio shook her head. “The rules are quite clear. The future must unfold in due course.”
“Then what good are you?” Julie tried not to whine, but it echoed down the hallway. “Why have all these scrolls here if no one can read them? I can't even remember anything at all, and you're just standing there, not helping!”
“I didn't say that no one could read them.” Clio sniffed. “I suppose there is little harm in accessing your past record. It's already happened; there is no chance for Entwining to occur.”
“Entwining?” Julie asked.
“That is not your concern.” Clio waved her hand. “Here is your scroll. I have denied access to the future, but you may peruse your past at your leisure. Perhaps you will find what you seek.”
Julie took the scroll. The bottom half was blurred, but a line in the middle kept moving forward as she read, showing her the words on the page. She was reading this moment as it was happening! Her heart leapt as she realized the power of the tool she held in her hand; every moment of her life was written here. Every thought was recorded. Julie took a breath and started reading.
There she was at age five when she learned to ride a bicycle. Yes! She remembered that bike. It was blue and had streamers trailing from the handlebars. Julie laughed out loud as she read the wind in her hair as if it was happening. She started to wobble as her dad let go of her, and she was going too fast. Oh, wait, she was going to fall …
A hand on her shoulder saved her from the inevitable sting. “It is easy to get lost in memories. That is as much a danger as anything. Find what you need, but do not tarry,” Clio advised her.
Julie blinked. The sunshine slant had been so real. She could still feel her pigtails as they bounced carefree around her face. The danger Clio mentioned was more than a warning; she could spend the rest of her real life wallowing in memories. Julie swallowed. “Thanks.”
She scanned her grade school years and holidays by the dozens. There was her mother, looking so young before all the gray had begun to ice her hair. Her graduation, her sister's wedding, and then …
“I was in a car crash,” Julie said. How could she have forgotten that?
“That was in the past,” Clio said. “It was long ago and you're safe now.”
“I'm safe now,” Julie echoed, but her hand still shook, a subtle betrayal.
“Who was driving?” Clio asked.
Julie looked up from the scroll. “Do I know you?” Clio's face didn't seem as unfamiliar just now. She looked like someone she'd seen before, someone she knew from somewhere, but Julie couldn't place her.
“Who was driving the car that night?” Clio repeated. “Do you remember?”
“Yes, it was Lisa. I told her this joke, and she was laughing so hard ...”Julie read the scroll. “I still remember the joke. It was about a boy scout and some Castor oil. It was so stupid. It was the stupidest thing ever, but it always made her laugh, every time.” Julie squeezed her eyes shut against the hot rush of tears. “Why did you have to show me? I didn't want to remember this. It's like losing her all over again.”
“It's been two years. It's time. You were ready. You asked for it,” Clio said.
“But I wouldn't have asked for that if I'd known. I wish I'd never found out!” Julie said. “I was better off thinking she was still fine.”
“You are stronger than you know. And you have healed more than you realize. When I count to one, you will know this, too, and remember why you came here. Are you ready? Be calm, and hear my voice,” Clio said.
“No! No! I'm not ready! I don't want any of this!” Julie shouted, panic rising. “I want to go home!”
“When I get to one, you will be calm, and you will remember this. Three … two … one … open your eyes, Julie.”
Dr. Colter sat forward, her pen hovering above the notations she'd made. “Can you hear me?”
Julie blinked. “I can.”
“You've just woken from the hypnosis. Do you remember what you said during the session?”
“You were there, doctor,” Julie said. “I was in some kind of Greek hall. I'm not sure why I dreamed that! I was reading about my life, like it was on this scroll, this parchment. Then I came to the part … the crash. Two years. How could I have forgotten that all this time? Forgotten her?”
“You didn't forget. You just stored it until you were ready,” Dr. Colter said. “You're ready to remember her now. You are stronger than you know.”
Julie nodded. “That's what she said-you said-to me, too.”
“It's true. And what's more, you're going to be okay. You are okay.” Dr. Colter said.
“Yes,” Julie's eyes filled with tears, but they were long overdue, and it felt good to let them fall. “I'm okay.”
And for the first time in a long time, she started to believe maybe she was.
Author: Keppiehed
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1248
Prompt: “Sorry”
A/N: Written for week #2 at brigits_flame. Still duking it out with my absentee Muse (if that's possible?). I think that's probably self-evident. :) Excuses, etc.
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses, to join Jul-
“I'm sorry, but there's been a mistake.”
Julie startled and dropped the scroll she'd been reading.
A woman wearing Grecian-style robes stooped to pick up the parchment. “No mortal is meant to view their own history. Kindly follow me. Thalia will entertain you while I sort this out.”
“Mortal?” Julie blinked and looked around. “I'm so confused. Where am I?”
“Mount Helicon, my dear,” the woman said. “I am Clio, the Muse of history. Did you not seek us out in order to sneak a glimpse of your future?”
“Uh … no. I don't know what you're talking about,” Julie said. “Mount where?”
“Oh, my. This is most irregular. I wonder if Hermes if playing tricks again.” Clio frowned. “I must consult with my sisters. Please, allow me to escort you to Thalia.”
Julie folded her arms. “I don't want Thalia.”
“Many people find comedy most enjoyable, but there is always Melpomene, if you prefer the tragedies-”
“I just want to go home. This is weirding me out!” Julie took a breath. “This feels like a dream.”
“Something is certainly different,” Clio agreed. “You seem disoriented. May I ask you what the last thing is you remember before you arrived at our hall?”
Julie paused. “I don't know. I can't remember anything.”
“That's odd. Very odd.” Clio tilted her head. “All you know is that you were reading your future?”
“That's right, it must be my future! I'm not married.” Julie smiled. “How far ahead was that? Can I just see who I'm going to marry?”
Clio held up a hand. “I'm sorry, no. As I mentioned before, mortals are not permitted to view their histories. The potential for disaster is … overwhelming, to say the least.”
“Disaster? But how could it hurt to know who I'll marry if I'm going to marry him anyway?” Julie asked.
“I am not at liberty to say,” Clio said.
“Can't you just give me a hint?” Julie asked. “Could you tell me his first name? The month I meet him? Come on, what's it to you? You've got it right there in your hands!”
Clio shook her head. “The rules are quite clear. The future must unfold in due course.”
“Then what good are you?” Julie tried not to whine, but it echoed down the hallway. “Why have all these scrolls here if no one can read them? I can't even remember anything at all, and you're just standing there, not helping!”
“I didn't say that no one could read them.” Clio sniffed. “I suppose there is little harm in accessing your past record. It's already happened; there is no chance for Entwining to occur.”
“Entwining?” Julie asked.
“That is not your concern.” Clio waved her hand. “Here is your scroll. I have denied access to the future, but you may peruse your past at your leisure. Perhaps you will find what you seek.”
Julie took the scroll. The bottom half was blurred, but a line in the middle kept moving forward as she read, showing her the words on the page. She was reading this moment as it was happening! Her heart leapt as she realized the power of the tool she held in her hand; every moment of her life was written here. Every thought was recorded. Julie took a breath and started reading.
There she was at age five when she learned to ride a bicycle. Yes! She remembered that bike. It was blue and had streamers trailing from the handlebars. Julie laughed out loud as she read the wind in her hair as if it was happening. She started to wobble as her dad let go of her, and she was going too fast. Oh, wait, she was going to fall …
A hand on her shoulder saved her from the inevitable sting. “It is easy to get lost in memories. That is as much a danger as anything. Find what you need, but do not tarry,” Clio advised her.
Julie blinked. The sunshine slant had been so real. She could still feel her pigtails as they bounced carefree around her face. The danger Clio mentioned was more than a warning; she could spend the rest of her real life wallowing in memories. Julie swallowed. “Thanks.”
She scanned her grade school years and holidays by the dozens. There was her mother, looking so young before all the gray had begun to ice her hair. Her graduation, her sister's wedding, and then …
“I was in a car crash,” Julie said. How could she have forgotten that?
“That was in the past,” Clio said. “It was long ago and you're safe now.”
“I'm safe now,” Julie echoed, but her hand still shook, a subtle betrayal.
“Who was driving?” Clio asked.
Julie looked up from the scroll. “Do I know you?” Clio's face didn't seem as unfamiliar just now. She looked like someone she'd seen before, someone she knew from somewhere, but Julie couldn't place her.
“Who was driving the car that night?” Clio repeated. “Do you remember?”
“Yes, it was Lisa. I told her this joke, and she was laughing so hard ...”Julie read the scroll. “I still remember the joke. It was about a boy scout and some Castor oil. It was so stupid. It was the stupidest thing ever, but it always made her laugh, every time.” Julie squeezed her eyes shut against the hot rush of tears. “Why did you have to show me? I didn't want to remember this. It's like losing her all over again.”
“It's been two years. It's time. You were ready. You asked for it,” Clio said.
“But I wouldn't have asked for that if I'd known. I wish I'd never found out!” Julie said. “I was better off thinking she was still fine.”
“You are stronger than you know. And you have healed more than you realize. When I count to one, you will know this, too, and remember why you came here. Are you ready? Be calm, and hear my voice,” Clio said.
“No! No! I'm not ready! I don't want any of this!” Julie shouted, panic rising. “I want to go home!”
“When I get to one, you will be calm, and you will remember this. Three … two … one … open your eyes, Julie.”
Dr. Colter sat forward, her pen hovering above the notations she'd made. “Can you hear me?”
Julie blinked. “I can.”
“You've just woken from the hypnosis. Do you remember what you said during the session?”
“You were there, doctor,” Julie said. “I was in some kind of Greek hall. I'm not sure why I dreamed that! I was reading about my life, like it was on this scroll, this parchment. Then I came to the part … the crash. Two years. How could I have forgotten that all this time? Forgotten her?”
“You didn't forget. You just stored it until you were ready,” Dr. Colter said. “You're ready to remember her now. You are stronger than you know.”
Julie nodded. “That's what she said-you said-to me, too.”
“It's true. And what's more, you're going to be okay. You are okay.” Dr. Colter said.
“Yes,” Julie's eyes filled with tears, but they were long overdue, and it felt good to let them fall. “I'm okay.”
And for the first time in a long time, she started to believe maybe she was.