Kareena’s limp became more pronounced as she made her way up
the mountain. Her worn, stout walking stick could only help so much when she
was in this state. The only things she noticed in her climb up were the tendrils of her salt and pepper hair that had affixed
themselves onto her sweaty face, shoving them only when they impeded her
sight. Her steps may have slowed down, but by the gods she was going to keep
them as steady as she could.
She stopped at an opening in the side of the mountain, a
scant few feet just below its summit. Kareena indulged in a look back at the
setting sun creating a deep red backdrop behind the village she was responsible
for. Before she could think about it too much longer, she stepped into the cave
and walked off the ledge of the pit inside it.
She fell, and the pit’s darkness engulfed her completely. The
air rushing past her scourged the sweat from her exertions off her body. Only
after she took several deep breaths did she begin to shout.
“I ache and I am angry. I listen to every complaint put before me. I mend every broken body laid in my hut. I sometimes don’t eat because I have no time to. And no one tends to me. No one nurses me in my pains. But they notice if it makes me slow in caring for theirs. I am angry and I need my anger to be heard.”
The pit’s darkness wrapped itself around her like a lover,
slowing the feeling of falling. It held her close and whispered comforting
words to her. Some of them she didn’t understand, because she wasn’t meant to
at that moment. Others she did. And she reached back out into the
Darkness, too tired to whisper back her gratitude for all of its words and for
its understanding. For a brief moment she and it were one, no longer
falling but flying.
Then her feet touched ground. Kareena walked back out
towards the light of the outside world, shining a few feet ahead of her. She
stepped out again though the same entrance she came through, but this time her
village was illuminated in the light of the rising sun behind her.
Kareena looked at it, breathing deeply again, just enjoying
the feel of the air flowing in and out of her lungs. When she was ready, she started
walking down the mountain path, swinging her walking stick back and forth as
she went. In all her years of coming here, she had never needed to use it when
she returned home.
Song Choice: The Beginning by One OK Rock
This short story was created for the amazing Magaly Guererro's Witches In Fiction 2016:Spelling Healing Into a Rotten World
I love the thought of a pit or well to throw yourself into when things get to hard, only to be caressed and carried out with renewed energy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ms. Misantropia. I really wanted the imagery here to be very striking, but somehow comforting.
DeleteWhistles!!❤️ Oh this is so wonderfully enchanting Rommy, I am in absolute awe where "The pit’s darkness wrapped itself around her like a lover, slowing the feeling of falling. It held her close and whispered comforting words to her. Some of them she didn’t understand, because she wasn’t meant to at that moment." Beautifully penned❤️
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Thank you Sanaa. I enjoyed playing with the imagery in this.
DeleteI think every woman can identify with Kareena at some point or another! Great story.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. I have to admit that I thought of a few people I know who have faced/ are facing some tough times when I was writing this.
DeleteOh I so identify with Kareena....she even looks like me lol...and breathe :D XXX
ReplyDeleteLOL, awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteI loved your story.
ReplyDeleteblessings
~*~
Thanks Laura <3
DeleteThis story just hit the spot. Wonderful visual of release. The joy of the walk down is profound. Thanks xoxo Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it. There was so much I was trying to get across in that short space. I'm glad the joy of the walk down was recognized.
DeleteWow, Rommy. What a profound and endearing story! Falling into darkness, the embrace, flying and triumph with light illuminating her world. Amazing imagery and a story almost every woman can relate to.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad the imagery worked so well. Thanks!
DeleteI love what this says about giving oneself to others, about coping, and about how the things we do affect us. We don't have to be meek to care our neighbors. We can be angry when things don't go as well as they should--we are human after all. We can find help in unlikely places, in abstract ones that become tangible and consumable--our arts--in friends, in Nature, in the fact that each new day brings possibilities that say, It will be all right. Just move forward and do your magic.
ReplyDeleteThere was so much I wanted to fit in, and I am beyond thrilled that it all came across. Thank you for reading.
DeleteIn need to find a caressing cave every now and then, but then again I feel more enlightened by this post alone.
ReplyDeleteI am extremely honored by your words.
DeleteThank you for sharing this wonderful story, Rommy! Loved it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed it
DeleteOh, boy! Where is that pit located? I think a lot of women would like to make that leap into the darkness just to release a little of their pent up resentment! Brilliant story, Rommy!
ReplyDeleteField trip time! :D
DeleteThank you for sharing this Guererro wonder with us
ReplyDeleteMagaly does come up with some amazing prompts as well as wonderful fiction of her own.
DeleteI am teary-eyed with recognition. You have reminded me to find my own cave and take that leap of faith that renews the Soul and Body. Thank you! I will be back to read this over and over!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you found it that meaningful.
DeleteRommy you actually wrote something that has a healing power, I think this woman drained, needed renewed, needed care, the same care she had given others, I hope what she gave was passed on, because this shows unless others give back, share what is given, it dries up... Thank goodness she found a place to replenish herself, some entity that looked after her needs, or the healing would have stopped, passing on our gifts is the way to stop the rot... And this story shows unless others care, we can destroy the very thing, the earth, the air, the people, we actually need to survive 😘
ReplyDeleteOh yes, it is so important to care for the ones who sustain us.
DeleteThis is beautiful, not least because I could have used this pit frequently this year. Also, I love the image of the darkness holding her as a lover would. So perfect, Rommy.
ReplyDeleteThis has been such an awful year for so many folks. But when Magaly came up with the idea of healing for her theme I was enchanted with the idea of getting some of the metaphors and imagery I had around this year onto paper (in a manner of speaking) and see what sort of healing could be found in them.
DeleteI love your Muse, and I love that you provide the music that goes with her dance. Publish the book! =)
ReplyDeleteI'm working on it. There are now seven stories for my anthology and I'm really working hard to get them right so their protagonists will have a chance to really be seen and understood.
DeleteThis is beautiful Rommy!!! Thankyou for writing such an amazing story! Very meaningful! Big Hugs and Many Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you enjoyed it :)
DeleteOh I can so identify with Kareena. What a GREAT story. Thank you for sharing this one. Hugs, Rasz
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by to read it. <3
DeleteAs always, my dear, brilliant! I have a friend who needs to read this. Thanks for writing such a beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it and hope your friend enjoys it too. :)
DeleteI know this feeling also. We take care of many and don't take care of ourselves..We need to trust the dark, the fall and tend to our self once in a while.
ReplyDeletevery uplifting, thank you.
I'm glad you found it so. Thanks for stopping by.
Delete