Eternity
It was a bright day as the sun glowed at its highest point of the day , the heat radiating across the land below. The bright green , lush grass reflected the rays as did the water in the stream that ran across the field. A little further people were gathering , dressed in their favorite formal clothes - friends , families and some curious onlookers too. The pathway they walked on led to a grassy slope at the end of a small hill , tall trees standing at rows on either sides guarding the ceremony. A light breeze travelled through , the branches swayed lightly with a 'swoosh' sound welcoming all those slowly and surely gathering. A single rose petal flew from the pathway , first high in the sky and then low on the floor gently carried along. A single pair of eyes was trained on the delicate object, watching its every movement, the doe shaped eye glinting the sunshine. Without a word the young girl caught the petal careful not to ruin its shape even as she did so. Clasping it in her chubby hands she peaked through a hole she created to admire her 'catch' before she twirled around and ran into the house straight to the lonely figure seated on a plush purple chair.
Even while seated she was posture perfect. Her fiery orange hair cascaded down her back tumbling down like fire. they contrasted well against her pristine white gown , which clung tightly to her curvy frame emphasizing her young feminine figure. She turned around as she heard the little steps.
" What have you here little angel ", Natalie asked. Opening her hand , the little petal slightly ruffled stared at her. She smiled adoringly at the little girl and whispered softly, her sweet harmonic voice resonating so lightly in the room, " Its beautiful ... But like everything in this world it would add beauty to the world if left free and not made captive. Come on little one, lets let it fly in the wind , release it to mother earth". She took the little chubby hands in her own delicate hands and walked towards the window. She struggled with the closed window briefly before managing to open it wide. Two pairs of eyes watched as the petal started to wiggle , raise its corners from the pull of the wind before flying out of the window, dropping low first and then high above. It was a moment they both took in.
However the peace and tranquility was soon shattered by the shrill voice of mother. " NATALIE , what are you doing ? Weren't you supposed to be getting ready ? Staring out of the window at this moment !!! Why, you have a lifetime to do that ", the voice echoed from faraway into the room. The little girl gave the older one a quick kiss on her palm before hurrying out of the room , her golden hair tumbling up and down as she ran and almost knocked the lady entering the room. The eldest woman let out a wail before regaining her balance with a flustered look on her face " Goodness Gracious Me !!!! Children " Natalie could not help herself as a little laugh passed through her lips." You have less than half an hour before the ceremony starts , and for once young lady I hope you would please your mother "
Wincing at the words she walked towards her mother, eyes down. Wild random thoughts gushing into her mind breaking all hell in there. ' Wasn't it exactly what I have been doing all through my life. Pleasing her, pleasing everyone. And yet no one seems pleased enough. No one ever is. ' Scenes from her childhood, her forever attempts to get approval from mother flashed before her eyes. And even after the ultimate sacrifice of her entire life, her eternity , mother is still unpleased.
She rewinded to the conversation 2 weeks ago.
" Don't I have a say in the decision regarding who I should spend my life with, my eternity with ? " Natalie asked her arms up in the air with annoyance. She wasn't raised to be argumentative. No she was born and raised to be a LADY with the best possible education , constantly told how to behave, what to speak , what was right and what defined wrongs. Fury shot through mothers face. " Don't you EVER raise your voice at me young lady ! You maybe ready for marriage in a few weeks time but are still my daughter and always will be. Your father and I know what is best for you even if you do not agree with us. "
Not another word was said between mother and daughter since then. As always Natalie mechanically went about the two weeks without living it. The activities and hustle around the house didn't move her. Her wedding gown didn't make her feel beautiful as she stood straight and proper for the fitters to make it perfect.
But today she felt different, defiant even maybe. Time was ticking by , seconds and minutes rolled on. She had very briefly met Luca, the man her parents had chosen. He was highly ranked in her society and could have anyone he set his eyes on. There were women waiting for him to lay his eyes on them but he chose her. He tried ways to get her attention , steal her heart but failed. Failure was something he could not fathom. He had to have her and if he could not do it on his own self obsessed charm , he decided to take his wish through her parents.
Thinking of this sent nerves through the young girl. She could not imagine Luca being her mate for life. Her stomach started doing flips inside of her , twisting in protests. She felt physically sick. So much was racing through her mind as she gazed at the crowd that was gathering. Thoughts such as ' Was this really happening ? Should she be going through with this ? Should she escape when she had the chance to? '
' Wait ! ', she thought again " Did I just think of escape, of freedom ? " Natalie thought out loud. ' Was it even possible ? ' Holding back the sick feeling she silently prayed to the Gods for wisdom and strength. She couldn't go through with this, it was so wrong. Letting her eyes close she felt the wind cares her face, tickling her small button nose, grazing her rosy cheeks and settling on her rosy plump lips. Her long black eyelashes curled and rested on her cheeks as her thoughts created a riot in her mind . Everyone loved her and at that moment she hated all of them.
" Natalie " her mother called out. " Its time dear " She hadn't seen her mother smile as much for as long as she can remember. ' Her mother was finally pleased. Could it be for real ? But at what cost? ', Natalie wondered. As her mother led her out , her mind whispered freedom just as a cold breeze hit her hard on the face. Quickly glancing around she took in the scene as her mother glided her through the pathway leading upto Luca. Seats were lined up and every one of them taken. Bang in the middle was a podium and Lucas standing right in front dressed in a white suit. She looked up at him and straight into his steel grey eyes. The look sent shivers through her body something the cold breeze didn't do. Clenching her jaw she took a shaky breath, eyes flickering around as she licked her lips. Going upto her ears her mother whispered sternly " Don't you dare mess this up " She turned to look at her mother. No, she didn't see love in those eyes. She never had ever for that matter. There was just instructions and control in them . half way though the pathway her mother loosened her grip on Natalie's arm.
" I'm sorry , I'm sorry " the words kept repeating in her mind over and over again before she started muttering the same. She quickly turned around to look at her mother and the guests gathered " I'm sorry , I cannot do this " she mumbled and turned to look straight into Luca's eyes, defiance building up inside her, freedom beckoning her very being. She picked up her white dress and stepped on the crack on the pathway before turning right and running off towards the gate to her desired eternity.
She was gone even before everyone realized what happened. " She's been taken by the Devil ", Natalie's mother wailed before collapsing on the pathway.
*****
( I have been mostly silent here on Idol. Read last week that most writers hesitate to comment if there is no specific requests for feedback. I would love to hear feedbacks and have always enjoyed whatever comments and feed back I have received so far. Please feel free. Would appreciate. )
Even while seated she was posture perfect. Her fiery orange hair cascaded down her back tumbling down like fire. they contrasted well against her pristine white gown , which clung tightly to her curvy frame emphasizing her young feminine figure. She turned around as she heard the little steps.
" What have you here little angel ", Natalie asked. Opening her hand , the little petal slightly ruffled stared at her. She smiled adoringly at the little girl and whispered softly, her sweet harmonic voice resonating so lightly in the room, " Its beautiful ... But like everything in this world it would add beauty to the world if left free and not made captive. Come on little one, lets let it fly in the wind , release it to mother earth". She took the little chubby hands in her own delicate hands and walked towards the window. She struggled with the closed window briefly before managing to open it wide. Two pairs of eyes watched as the petal started to wiggle , raise its corners from the pull of the wind before flying out of the window, dropping low first and then high above. It was a moment they both took in.
However the peace and tranquility was soon shattered by the shrill voice of mother. " NATALIE , what are you doing ? Weren't you supposed to be getting ready ? Staring out of the window at this moment !!! Why, you have a lifetime to do that ", the voice echoed from faraway into the room. The little girl gave the older one a quick kiss on her palm before hurrying out of the room , her golden hair tumbling up and down as she ran and almost knocked the lady entering the room. The eldest woman let out a wail before regaining her balance with a flustered look on her face " Goodness Gracious Me !!!! Children " Natalie could not help herself as a little laugh passed through her lips." You have less than half an hour before the ceremony starts , and for once young lady I hope you would please your mother "
Wincing at the words she walked towards her mother, eyes down. Wild random thoughts gushing into her mind breaking all hell in there. ' Wasn't it exactly what I have been doing all through my life. Pleasing her, pleasing everyone. And yet no one seems pleased enough. No one ever is. ' Scenes from her childhood, her forever attempts to get approval from mother flashed before her eyes. And even after the ultimate sacrifice of her entire life, her eternity , mother is still unpleased.
She rewinded to the conversation 2 weeks ago.
" Don't I have a say in the decision regarding who I should spend my life with, my eternity with ? " Natalie asked her arms up in the air with annoyance. She wasn't raised to be argumentative. No she was born and raised to be a LADY with the best possible education , constantly told how to behave, what to speak , what was right and what defined wrongs. Fury shot through mothers face. " Don't you EVER raise your voice at me young lady ! You maybe ready for marriage in a few weeks time but are still my daughter and always will be. Your father and I know what is best for you even if you do not agree with us. "
Not another word was said between mother and daughter since then. As always Natalie mechanically went about the two weeks without living it. The activities and hustle around the house didn't move her. Her wedding gown didn't make her feel beautiful as she stood straight and proper for the fitters to make it perfect.
But today she felt different, defiant even maybe. Time was ticking by , seconds and minutes rolled on. She had very briefly met Luca, the man her parents had chosen. He was highly ranked in her society and could have anyone he set his eyes on. There were women waiting for him to lay his eyes on them but he chose her. He tried ways to get her attention , steal her heart but failed. Failure was something he could not fathom. He had to have her and if he could not do it on his own self obsessed charm , he decided to take his wish through her parents.
Thinking of this sent nerves through the young girl. She could not imagine Luca being her mate for life. Her stomach started doing flips inside of her , twisting in protests. She felt physically sick. So much was racing through her mind as she gazed at the crowd that was gathering. Thoughts such as ' Was this really happening ? Should she be going through with this ? Should she escape when she had the chance to? '
' Wait ! ', she thought again " Did I just think of escape, of freedom ? " Natalie thought out loud. ' Was it even possible ? ' Holding back the sick feeling she silently prayed to the Gods for wisdom and strength. She couldn't go through with this, it was so wrong. Letting her eyes close she felt the wind cares her face, tickling her small button nose, grazing her rosy cheeks and settling on her rosy plump lips. Her long black eyelashes curled and rested on her cheeks as her thoughts created a riot in her mind . Everyone loved her and at that moment she hated all of them.
" Natalie " her mother called out. " Its time dear " She hadn't seen her mother smile as much for as long as she can remember. ' Her mother was finally pleased. Could it be for real ? But at what cost? ', Natalie wondered. As her mother led her out , her mind whispered freedom just as a cold breeze hit her hard on the face. Quickly glancing around she took in the scene as her mother glided her through the pathway leading upto Luca. Seats were lined up and every one of them taken. Bang in the middle was a podium and Lucas standing right in front dressed in a white suit. She looked up at him and straight into his steel grey eyes. The look sent shivers through her body something the cold breeze didn't do. Clenching her jaw she took a shaky breath, eyes flickering around as she licked her lips. Going upto her ears her mother whispered sternly " Don't you dare mess this up " She turned to look at her mother. No, she didn't see love in those eyes. She never had ever for that matter. There was just instructions and control in them . half way though the pathway her mother loosened her grip on Natalie's arm.
" I'm sorry , I'm sorry " the words kept repeating in her mind over and over again before she started muttering the same. She quickly turned around to look at her mother and the guests gathered " I'm sorry , I cannot do this " she mumbled and turned to look straight into Luca's eyes, defiance building up inside her, freedom beckoning her very being. She picked up her white dress and stepped on the crack on the pathway before turning right and running off towards the gate to her desired eternity.
She was gone even before everyone realized what happened. " She's been taken by the Devil ", Natalie's mother wailed before collapsing on the pathway.
*****
( I have been mostly silent here on Idol. Read last week that most writers hesitate to comment if there is no specific requests for feedback. I would love to hear feedbacks and have always enjoyed whatever comments and feed back I have received so far. Please feel free. Would appreciate. )