The Best That Can Be Hoped For


The commander’s body was displayed with all the pomp the citizens of the town could afford, and then some. On the first two days, wailers arrived promptly at dawn, not leaving their post outside the chapel until the sun set. They were there too on the third, although that day was set aside for select people to pay their last respects before burial the next morning.

Even the wailers paused to bow when Lady Allegra came to the chapel to say her farewells. The solemn commander’s ward was a familiar figure to them all. They shuffled aside, with their eyes on the ground to let her pass.

“Please,” she said in a quivering whisper that carried to the furthest honor guard in the room. “I’d like to be alone with him, one last time.”

The head guard nodded, and they all filed out.

Allegra leaned over the casket, the shaky note in her whisper all gone now. “I have never wished harder for the existence of an afterlife, just so that I’d have the satisfaction of knowing you are suffering in it.”

She took in the sight of the cruel face, knowing its mouth would never scream at her again, and the hands, which would never strike her for forgetting a lesson. Then she gave a satisfied sigh. “I wish I was the one responsible for your condition, but I’ll thank time and the diseases you fostered with your vices for doing their job. However, I will be responsible for the remaking of this city, you can count on that. My alliances have been in place well before your first wheeze. Everything you’ve created will come undone. This city will heal.

You always preached about forgiveness being healing, along with other things you obviously didn’t really believe. But I think I will work on forgiving someone. Myself. For not forgiving you. I don’t know if I ever will, but I don’t think I have to in order to do what needs doing. I’m looking forward to the first day I don’t have to think about you. That will be enough.”

And with that she left, the body in the chapel behind her and a new day in front.



Photo by Maxime Gauthier on Unsplash

Liner Notes for This Groove: This short fiction was created for Poets and Storytellers United's Weekly Scriblings #19. I'll be taking one (maybe two) weeks off for a break after this. LOL, I was going to take off anyway as my husband and I had plans to go off and do something fun for our 25th anniversary. But even though we'll be celebrating at home, I'll still be taking my break.

39 comments:

  1. WOW. It's as if I've read part of a novel, and I want to read the rest!

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    1. Woot! Eventually I should get to writing one of those, one of these days. :D

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  2. Sounds like Lady Allegra found her closure! Delightful story. Congrats on your upcoming silver wedding anniversary and have fun on your break!

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    1. Thanks Deb! LOL, not so sure what we'll do, quarantined with the kids too. But we'll think of something. :D

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  3. This is absolutely riveting, Rommy! I felt like I was reading the prologue of a best selling novel!💘

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    1. From your lips to the universe's ears. :D

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  4. Can we have some more?

    Happy Wednesday

    Much💚love

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    1. I will keep this in the file of ideas for a book!

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    1. Oh, and Bon (non)Voyage!

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    2. You guys sure know how to flatter a girl! I will hold on to this one as a possible novel starter.

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  6. Good for you Lady Allegra...use the tears to get a chance to spill your truth

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  7. A fascinating and very satisfying tale. I too would love more – a prequel, and the further adventures!

    Happy Silver Wedding Anniversary!!!

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    1. Dang, I seem to have hit on something :) Thanks Rosemary

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  8. I'll forgive myself for not forgiving you. I find that incredibly powerful. We should allow ourselves to feel that anger and not feel bad for it. I like her spirit, and her desire to rebuild not just herself but the entire community. Things can change and one person can be the impetus to change them. Have a great break and happy anniversary!! :)

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    1. Anger properly channeled can be a very transformative thing, at least that's what I've found.

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  9. Often the mean boss gets rewards before it is all over. I remember two, one I left before the verdict was payed but heard it was, the other they secretly did the unmentionable like in the jokes, messed with the bosses' coffee cup bad before he came in.
    ..

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    1. Thank you for the prompt idea, it was fun to write for.
      ..

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  10. Isn't it sad that some people think it is good to be better than others only to lose their self repect when they think the opposite because power and control are not admired as a rule,

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  11. The scene is set so perfectly in the opening paragraph, Rommy, and I love the way you introduced Lady Allegra – an awesome entrance indeed – and the change in her voice. I can’t begin to imagine what he did, but it must have been terrible considering her words: ‘I’ll thank time and the diseases you fostered with your vices for doing their job’.
    Enjoy your time off, Rommy, and happy 25th wedding anniversary!

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  12. Oh my,
    i can feel the triumphant theme in your story here. great write!

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  13. Happy Anniversary!!!! Love how she dismissed everyone, leaned over the casket and let him HAVE it.

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  14. Happy Anniversary to you and yours, dear Rommy! Hope you make the best of your break, celebrating love.<3

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    1. I came back to actually read the story as I skimmed through earlier on, and I echo the sentiment. This is an absorbing story. I'd love to read the rest or events leading to this triumphant resolution. :)

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  15. Oh I am all for the thoughts and words of Lady Allegra. Kudos to her. And Happy Anniversary.

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  16. OMg you still manage to get inside my head after all this time. I LITERALLY had this conversation yesterday (about forgiving myself for not being able to forgive another) and feel so much better about it all today :D Here's to brighter days ahead XXX

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  17. I agree that forgiving oneself and finding closure is the only way to truly move forward...

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  18. Sweet, sweet freedom. I agree with the above. Great write.

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  19. Oh, Allegra, dear Allegra! how your song sings to heart.

    This story reads like a sigh, Rommy, a sigh and a purging inner-scream... one, which I believe, many of us have been silently (and not so silently) shouting these days.

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  20. Triumphant. This feels both like a beginning and like a wonderful epilogue to an otherwise dark story.

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  21. This seems like either a beginning or and end to a much larger story and I echo other's desire to read further to answer the questions of what and why.
    Cheers to you and yours on your anniversary!

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  22. A most empowering tale, Rommy! Onwards and upwards, leaving the memories with the dead. Well executed!

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  23. This is really a wow for me! You have such a gift for flow in your prose!

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  24. Happy Sunday Rommy

    Much💚love

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  25. I can hear the slam of that door! (or casket).

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