oops...
aha! I figured out why I thought I posted # 83, but it wasn't there... our computer was having issues with LJ that night, and it accidentally got posted to my own journal. So for those of you not on my friends list, now you can read it too... For those of you who are, sorry about the doubling up.
And now, on to part 3, preceeded by #15 Mistake and #83 Mail, I give you:
# 46 Time
591 words
When Usagi arrived at Jubaan Community Park, her watch showed 6:30. She would only need to wait half an hour for Mamoru to arrive, and knowing him, he would be fifteen minutes early. Usagi settled herself onto one of the swings and pulled Mamoru’s letter out of her purse.
She pushed her toes softly into the gravel as she read, enjoying the gentle motion of the swing. By the time she reached the end of the letter, she was pumping her legs hard, her body soaring in a way that matched her spirit. The feeling of wind pulling on her hair and skirt kept Usagi pumping. She had forgotten this feeling. Sure she was able to jump and nearly fly as Sailor Moon, but this was different. This was Usagi, plain, ordinary Usagi, flying. She had probably been six or seven the last time she had been on a swing.
As Usagi tired, she glanced down at her watch-7:00. Where was Mamoru? The bench was empty. It was not like him to be late. She pulled out the letter again, certain he would be there any minute. She returned to her gentle toe pushing while she read.
Another glance at her watch showed 7:15. Usagi wondered what could be keeping him. Maybe a class was running late, or maybe he had missed his bus.
Flipping over on the swing, Usagi lay on her stomach, letting her arms and legs hang down into the gravel. As she swayed, she placed the letter on the ground beneath her face.
“You are a warm light on my soul.”
He would be here; she knew it. Her Mamo-chan was coming for her. 7:30. He was half an hour late now. Usagi peeled herself from the swing, her legs wobbly from the extended motion. A walk would do her good-and help her to burn time.
There was a small pavilion with a washroom and a drink machine nearby. Surely Mamoru would have arrived by the time she walked there and back. Taking her time in the washroom and pondering several minutes over her drink choice, her watch showed 7:45 as she approached the swings again.
As Usagi came around the corner and the bench came into view, she saw a man seated there. Dropping her soda, she ran towards him shouting, “Mamo-chan, you came!” But when he looked up at her, she instantly realized that this was not Mamoru.
Usagi burst into tears. Why was Mamoru so late? Maybe the letter really had been a trick. No, Mamoru could never be that mean. But he could have changed his mind. What if he had remembered what a whiney crybaby she was and decided that the whole letter was a mistake? Usagi was suddenly certain that this was the case.
At that moment, the sight of the bench was more than she could take. Turning, she ran down the path, blinded by tears. Her breaking heart beat loudly in her ears, covering the sound of her feet slapping on the pavement. Run, Usagi, just run. She ran through the park, not knowing or caring that she was getting further and further from home.
When she could finally run no more, Usagi gave up and collapsed, falling forward towards the pavement. But just before she landed, she was caught up by in strong pair of arms. Too tired to even look up at her rescuer, she fainted from exhaustion as he lifted her up into his embrace like a father would carry a sleeping child.
And now, on to part 3, preceeded by #15 Mistake and #83 Mail, I give you:
# 46 Time
591 words
When Usagi arrived at Jubaan Community Park, her watch showed 6:30. She would only need to wait half an hour for Mamoru to arrive, and knowing him, he would be fifteen minutes early. Usagi settled herself onto one of the swings and pulled Mamoru’s letter out of her purse.
She pushed her toes softly into the gravel as she read, enjoying the gentle motion of the swing. By the time she reached the end of the letter, she was pumping her legs hard, her body soaring in a way that matched her spirit. The feeling of wind pulling on her hair and skirt kept Usagi pumping. She had forgotten this feeling. Sure she was able to jump and nearly fly as Sailor Moon, but this was different. This was Usagi, plain, ordinary Usagi, flying. She had probably been six or seven the last time she had been on a swing.
As Usagi tired, she glanced down at her watch-7:00. Where was Mamoru? The bench was empty. It was not like him to be late. She pulled out the letter again, certain he would be there any minute. She returned to her gentle toe pushing while she read.
Another glance at her watch showed 7:15. Usagi wondered what could be keeping him. Maybe a class was running late, or maybe he had missed his bus.
Flipping over on the swing, Usagi lay on her stomach, letting her arms and legs hang down into the gravel. As she swayed, she placed the letter on the ground beneath her face.
“You are a warm light on my soul.”
He would be here; she knew it. Her Mamo-chan was coming for her. 7:30. He was half an hour late now. Usagi peeled herself from the swing, her legs wobbly from the extended motion. A walk would do her good-and help her to burn time.
There was a small pavilion with a washroom and a drink machine nearby. Surely Mamoru would have arrived by the time she walked there and back. Taking her time in the washroom and pondering several minutes over her drink choice, her watch showed 7:45 as she approached the swings again.
As Usagi came around the corner and the bench came into view, she saw a man seated there. Dropping her soda, she ran towards him shouting, “Mamo-chan, you came!” But when he looked up at her, she instantly realized that this was not Mamoru.
Usagi burst into tears. Why was Mamoru so late? Maybe the letter really had been a trick. No, Mamoru could never be that mean. But he could have changed his mind. What if he had remembered what a whiney crybaby she was and decided that the whole letter was a mistake? Usagi was suddenly certain that this was the case.
At that moment, the sight of the bench was more than she could take. Turning, she ran down the path, blinded by tears. Her breaking heart beat loudly in her ears, covering the sound of her feet slapping on the pavement. Run, Usagi, just run. She ran through the park, not knowing or caring that she was getting further and further from home.
When she could finally run no more, Usagi gave up and collapsed, falling forward towards the pavement. But just before she landed, she was caught up by in strong pair of arms. Too tired to even look up at her rescuer, she fainted from exhaustion as he lifted her up into his embrace like a father would carry a sleeping child.