Post by Zahra de Agré (D) on Jul 26, 2007 17:49:48 GMT -5
My family was broken. I was an only child with, now, only one parent. My mother was unapproachable. She wore dark clothes, never left her our home, and wept almost continuously. Things improved after we left for Menekhet. My grandfather, held her in his arms for hours as she cried. I was not forgotten, but I did not find myself dealing with the loss of my father quite the same. Dressed in the traditional black clothes, I too remained within the house, though no tears dripped from my eyes, nor was a smile ever on my lips. I was strong for mother, almost faking a happiness to let her know it was ok to live again.
A few months later, mother stopped crying, she only wore black on Sundays, I approached her with something I had thought about for several weeks now. "Mother," I began, my voice strong but my heart fluttering like a bird in a cage, "I am an Agré, I have a responsibility in Siovale, at home." My mother sat motionless, I continued. "We have an obligation... I do. I-"
Her hand was up, silently asking me to stop speaking. "I understand Zahra." Her face was drawn in a warm smile. She rose slowly from her chaise and walked over to where I stood, motionless. Her armed wrapped slowly around me in a soft embrace. Kissing the top of my head she whispered, "but I will not come with you. This is my home."
It stung, though I had prepared myself to hear it. Nodding slowly I hugged her back, and stepped away from her, facing out the open window that overlooked the city. "I should leave in a week or so. I will make all the preparations."
My mother made a small noise, making turn to look at her, "I will visit often. I promise."
She nodded walking to the window as well, "anything and everything you need will be provided for you, should you ask." I thanked her, but knew it would be a last resort. "Now go tell the news to your grandfather," she said with a soft smile, "let him down gently, just today he spoke of the numerous things he planned for you this year."
A few months later, mother stopped crying, she only wore black on Sundays, I approached her with something I had thought about for several weeks now. "Mother," I began, my voice strong but my heart fluttering like a bird in a cage, "I am an Agré, I have a responsibility in Siovale, at home." My mother sat motionless, I continued. "We have an obligation... I do. I-"
Her hand was up, silently asking me to stop speaking. "I understand Zahra." Her face was drawn in a warm smile. She rose slowly from her chaise and walked over to where I stood, motionless. Her armed wrapped slowly around me in a soft embrace. Kissing the top of my head she whispered, "but I will not come with you. This is my home."
It stung, though I had prepared myself to hear it. Nodding slowly I hugged her back, and stepped away from her, facing out the open window that overlooked the city. "I should leave in a week or so. I will make all the preparations."
My mother made a small noise, making turn to look at her, "I will visit often. I promise."
She nodded walking to the window as well, "anything and everything you need will be provided for you, should you ask." I thanked her, but knew it would be a last resort. "Now go tell the news to your grandfather," she said with a soft smile, "let him down gently, just today he spoke of the numerous things he planned for you this year."