katiekitten
The Compromise
I have been planning this for a while, but I only just got around to writing it...
A pear tree, once laden with blossoms. Around it, darkness.
Silence.
A closed bud, sprouting off a shrivelled twig, its colours dictating peace and serenity, a soothing blend of soft pink and white. The last to bloom, for all the others are dead and gone. Alone.
Slowly, the petals unfurl, showing their splendour to the world. A fragment of hope in a world of darkness. The withered tree sways in a prevailing wind, the flower holds on with all its might, to the spark of life swiftly slipping from its grasp.
It fails.
The wind calls it, a melancholic tune that weaves the spell of the final reckoning, the final truth, the final end. With a sigh the flower lets go, allowing itself to be drawn into the heart of the call, the sonorous song, trilling through the ages unto the dawn of time. Away from its home it twirls, born on the wings of the North to fall, its last descent, on the cobbled stones of a courtyard. Silence. Forever silent.
A shadowed figure lies in the heart of the courtyard, tears trickling down her soft face to fall, forgotten, on the dry weathered stone. Her back is bent in grief, silent shudders running down her body as she sobs quietly into folded arms. She looks up, ruby eyes brimming with tears that trickle out of the corners of her eyes. Her green hair hangs over her face, slightly obscuring her features as she stares forlornly at the periwinkle sky. Why? She asks silently, her small cherry red lips mouthing the words. Why did it have to end this way? Why did you abandon me?
Her delicate hands were folded neatly in her lap, they shook uncontrollably. She bows her head once more, drawing her legs closer to herself. A small, pink blossom is blown upwards by a small breeze, drifting past her face. She sees it and reaches out, catching it in cupped hands and bringing it close. A sapphire tear runs down her nose and drops onto the flower, lingering on a poised petal as if it were a drop of dew. She gazes down at it, her eyes moist as the flow of tears slows to a halt. I am useless, she realizes, lips quivering as she held back another onslaught of tears. He threw me away as if I was something disgusting he had found on the bottom of his shoe. What did I do? I may not have been the strongest, but I loved him, like I thought he loved me.
Another tear forms and slips quietly down her face. She sits in silence, watching as a small cloud drifts over the sun’s glorious face. It is amazing, she thinks, watching its shadow encroach upon the peaceful sunshine of the courtyard, how something so small can make a such difference… She stops herself, shaking her head to clear it, dismayed at her reaction. Her green hair sways a little, brushing against the two red fins that protrude from the back of her head. I must stop this, she thinks fiercely, anger welling up as she brushes the tear away. It won't turn back time, or do anything but prove that he was right, that I am weak. Her expression hardens. Done is done. Sorrow darts fleetingly over her features as she reaches a decision. Carefully closing her hand she gets to her feet, pausing to brush off the worst of the dirt. Standing, she briefly closes her eyes, lips moving in a quick prayer. But soon the moment is gone and she spreads her arms wide, before opening her mouth and beginning to sing.
A slow tune began, her sweet, soprano voice rising and falling as she begins to sway from side to side, like a tree in the wind. She sang of beginnings, of new life, of hope, twirling into motion as her voice gains in power and lustre. She gradually picks up the beat as she begins to dance. Beneath her feet, grass that pokes up in-between the cracked paving stones begin to glow with a green light, before shooting up beneath her light step. Around the courtyard she spins and whirls, singing all the while. Now buds emerged and burst open in showers of color, sending the sensual smell of their nectar throughout the courtyard. The once dead place was now a spectacle of greenery of all shapes and sizes, from the vines on the walls to the dead tree sprouting new leaves, reinvigorated by the lively beat.
On and on, she spins and leaps, soaring through the air like a bird in flight. Her song changes, it now speaks of beauty and grace, of joy and glee. From the hovel of new leaves the twittering of birds reached her ears, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. Smiling, she continues, twirling in mid air to land on one foot, as her song reaches its peak. The leaves are thrust aside as a starling flutters into her midst, adding its own melody to hers. The very air seems to sing with her, vibrant with life. She laughs with joy, her skirts floating gracefully around her as she pirouettes, slowly raising her arms.
“DONG!”
A low gong shatters the melody, the deep note rumbling through the ground and air. On she danced, her voice slipping down an octave, speed depleting as she reaches the end of her dance.
“DONG!”
Her voice loses its power, the Starling lets loose a mournful cry before gliding back to its nest, the color fading from petals as the flower heads begin to droop to the ground.
“DONG!”
Now her song changes, speaking of the wisdom of ages, of time slowly ending...
“Dong!”
The plants around her began to shrivel and die. Her dance continues to slow until she once more is still, holding a final position. Her voice fades to a mere whisper, speaking of the final sleep. The leaves on the tree browns and slip to the ground, one by one. The grass retreats into the depths of the soil, reduced once more to mere husks, the occasional bright green stalk only a memory of what once was.
“Dong…”
Her voice trails off. She slowly slides down, slipping into darkness. Her breathing slows, a sigh passing through her lips as her head touches the ground. Her hand opens as she gazes at the flower enclosed, vision narrowing. It had been reduced to a shrivelled husk, crumbling to dust in her wavering hand. It was now, finally, the end.
That's all. Short, I know. I don't know that many dance words. So, how did you like it? This whole one shot was about Perish Song, that is what she was singing. Comments and critism wanted, this is my first first short story that hasn't turned into an epic.
;
A pear tree, once laden with blossoms. Around it, darkness.
Silence.
A closed bud, sprouting off a shrivelled twig, its colours dictating peace and serenity, a soothing blend of soft pink and white. The last to bloom, for all the others are dead and gone. Alone.
Slowly, the petals unfurl, showing their splendour to the world. A fragment of hope in a world of darkness. The withered tree sways in a prevailing wind, the flower holds on with all its might, to the spark of life swiftly slipping from its grasp.
It fails.
The wind calls it, a melancholic tune that weaves the spell of the final reckoning, the final truth, the final end. With a sigh the flower lets go, allowing itself to be drawn into the heart of the call, the sonorous song, trilling through the ages unto the dawn of time. Away from its home it twirls, born on the wings of the North to fall, its last descent, on the cobbled stones of a courtyard. Silence. Forever silent.
A shadowed figure lies in the heart of the courtyard, tears trickling down her soft face to fall, forgotten, on the dry weathered stone. Her back is bent in grief, silent shudders running down her body as she sobs quietly into folded arms. She looks up, ruby eyes brimming with tears that trickle out of the corners of her eyes. Her green hair hangs over her face, slightly obscuring her features as she stares forlornly at the periwinkle sky. Why? She asks silently, her small cherry red lips mouthing the words. Why did it have to end this way? Why did you abandon me?
Her delicate hands were folded neatly in her lap, they shook uncontrollably. She bows her head once more, drawing her legs closer to herself. A small, pink blossom is blown upwards by a small breeze, drifting past her face. She sees it and reaches out, catching it in cupped hands and bringing it close. A sapphire tear runs down her nose and drops onto the flower, lingering on a poised petal as if it were a drop of dew. She gazes down at it, her eyes moist as the flow of tears slows to a halt. I am useless, she realizes, lips quivering as she held back another onslaught of tears. He threw me away as if I was something disgusting he had found on the bottom of his shoe. What did I do? I may not have been the strongest, but I loved him, like I thought he loved me.
Another tear forms and slips quietly down her face. She sits in silence, watching as a small cloud drifts over the sun’s glorious face. It is amazing, she thinks, watching its shadow encroach upon the peaceful sunshine of the courtyard, how something so small can make a such difference… She stops herself, shaking her head to clear it, dismayed at her reaction. Her green hair sways a little, brushing against the two red fins that protrude from the back of her head. I must stop this, she thinks fiercely, anger welling up as she brushes the tear away. It won't turn back time, or do anything but prove that he was right, that I am weak. Her expression hardens. Done is done. Sorrow darts fleetingly over her features as she reaches a decision. Carefully closing her hand she gets to her feet, pausing to brush off the worst of the dirt. Standing, she briefly closes her eyes, lips moving in a quick prayer. But soon the moment is gone and she spreads her arms wide, before opening her mouth and beginning to sing.
A slow tune began, her sweet, soprano voice rising and falling as she begins to sway from side to side, like a tree in the wind. She sang of beginnings, of new life, of hope, twirling into motion as her voice gains in power and lustre. She gradually picks up the beat as she begins to dance. Beneath her feet, grass that pokes up in-between the cracked paving stones begin to glow with a green light, before shooting up beneath her light step. Around the courtyard she spins and whirls, singing all the while. Now buds emerged and burst open in showers of color, sending the sensual smell of their nectar throughout the courtyard. The once dead place was now a spectacle of greenery of all shapes and sizes, from the vines on the walls to the dead tree sprouting new leaves, reinvigorated by the lively beat.
On and on, she spins and leaps, soaring through the air like a bird in flight. Her song changes, it now speaks of beauty and grace, of joy and glee. From the hovel of new leaves the twittering of birds reached her ears, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. Smiling, she continues, twirling in mid air to land on one foot, as her song reaches its peak. The leaves are thrust aside as a starling flutters into her midst, adding its own melody to hers. The very air seems to sing with her, vibrant with life. She laughs with joy, her skirts floating gracefully around her as she pirouettes, slowly raising her arms.
“DONG!”
A low gong shatters the melody, the deep note rumbling through the ground and air. On she danced, her voice slipping down an octave, speed depleting as she reaches the end of her dance.
“DONG!”
Her voice loses its power, the Starling lets loose a mournful cry before gliding back to its nest, the color fading from petals as the flower heads begin to droop to the ground.
“DONG!”
Now her song changes, speaking of the wisdom of ages, of time slowly ending...
“Dong!”
The plants around her began to shrivel and die. Her dance continues to slow until she once more is still, holding a final position. Her voice fades to a mere whisper, speaking of the final sleep. The leaves on the tree browns and slip to the ground, one by one. The grass retreats into the depths of the soil, reduced once more to mere husks, the occasional bright green stalk only a memory of what once was.
“Dong…”
Her voice trails off. She slowly slides down, slipping into darkness. Her breathing slows, a sigh passing through her lips as her head touches the ground. Her hand opens as she gazes at the flower enclosed, vision narrowing. It had been reduced to a shrivelled husk, crumbling to dust in her wavering hand. It was now, finally, the end.
That's all. Short, I know. I don't know that many dance words. So, how did you like it? This whole one shot was about Perish Song, that is what she was singing. Comments and critism wanted, this is my first first short story that hasn't turned into an epic.
;
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