That time of the year #WordsMatter
There is a slight nip in the air. The gloomy weather doesn’t go well with me but today I’m determined to not let the weather affect my mood. Because this is the day that I wait for every year- every year since you left town. For it isn’t that time of the year without you. We were teenagers then, each of us with dreams of our own. But there was a difference. You knew what your dreams were and you had a plan on how to achieve them. But I only had dreams. And maybe a lot of obstacles for which I had no courage or strength to overcome.
The day soon came when you had to leave. How I dreaded getting out of bed that day. I’d barely slept the whole night but I kept my eyes closed, thinking of all the wonderful times that we had. Growing up together, we were inseparable. Those walks to school and back, those games we played, the times when we would run out to play rather than studying for the approaching examinations all seem like yesterday. We knew each other’s secrets and we were there for each other through times good and bad. As those memories came flooding in, I didn’t want to open my eyes. For it was all like a beautiful dream that I didn’t want to wake up from.
With teary eyes, I bid you goodbye, but my only hope was that promise we made. That promise to meet each year at that time of the year when the air grew colder announcing that winter was arriving soon. And that day for this year, has arrived. I wait for you eagerly for I want to see you after all this time. No one visits me these days and you’re the only one who visits me at least once a year. I love the scent of the fresh flowers that you bring with you. It is almost time and I wonder why you haven’t come yet. You are never late. I wonder what is it that has delayed your arrival. Has the unbroken promise been broken? I’ve never felt this sad before.
As I console myself and resign to being lonely and not visited, I hear people walking into the cemetery with a coffin. I was so engrossed with all the memories and the excitement of having a visitor, that I did not notice the freshly dug grave beside mine. And I’m in for a shock. I am overjoyed when I see you waving at me. Though I feel a twinge of sadness thinking that you had to leave the world of the living, I’m happy that you are with me here on the other side. As they lower you into the grave, “I kept my promise. Sorry I couldn’t get any flowers for you.”. I don’t know what to say. “I’m glad that you are here with me”, I whisper.
I received this tag from Vinay at I Rhyme without reason. It’s my pleasure to pass on this tag to Jyothi at Shortened Tales. There are 38 of us on this Blog Hop and it will be spread over 3 days – 4, 5, 6 October 2019. Do follow the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and prepare to be surprised!
Wonderful narration and beautiful story Reema.
Thank you Ramya.
That is a creepy kind of story. But oh so sweet. 🙂
Thank you Jyothi.
I often wonder what it will really be like on the other side! It’s consoling to think there’ll be loved ones waiting to greet us!
I often wonder about that too. That was my inspiration for writing this.
A haunting tale this is and so beautifully told, Reema! A Lovely take on the prompt. Made me wonder how it must be to meet our loved ones on the other side. How would we recognise them?
Thank you Esha. Ah recognizing people after death is an interesting topic. Now, I wonder about it too.
That’s eerie and sad too. They must have shared a beautiful bond. The end took me by surprise, didn’t see it coming!
A wonderful take on the prompt, Reema!!
Thank you Shilpa. I’ glad you enjoyed reading it.
Haunting yet beautiful, Reema. That twist in the story was so unexpected. This is a very different take on the prompt and I loved it. 🙂
Thank you Vinitha. I’m glad you enjoyed reading this.
Very haunting narration Reema, totally brimming with so much wistfulness. Loved the way it turned out in the end.
Thank you Shalz. I’ glad you liked it.
That was sweet! Not many people would be able to take an experience like death and make it into something happy.
Thank you Sunita.
Well written but I got the creeps all right !
Thank you. Well its October, so had to add a dose of creepy.
That was creepy in a sweet kind of way.
Thank you.
This was so different Reema. I wonder who would be on the other side and will there be someone? Good in your story – they were now together. Thanks for joining #WordsMatter.
Thank you Parul. I wanted to make it a happy ending in a different way.
This was a bittersweet story. Can a story of the dead be a happy one? Well, your story brings out this aspect in a nice way. For not even once, I could have imagined the story to end in a way it did.
I’m glad that you liked reading it. Thank you Anamika.
Nice story… I wonder how we meet people on the other side #WordsMatter
Thank you.
That’s such a different and unique take, Reema. Really enjoyed the story!
I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. Thank you Shinjini.
What a lovely bittersweet story!
Thank you Apeksha.
This was rather sad .But I suppose life and death go hand in hand
Yes, they do.
Poignant, eerie, and quite engaging for sure. Loved the narration, Reema! 🙂
Thank you Vinay.