10th of Spring, 522 A.V
It was a cold dark spring morning when Adal Karelyn touched her mother’s face for what would be the last time. Soon her body would be cremated, her ashes spread to the wind so Adal took her time memorizing the lines of her mother’s face. The well worn grooves guided her fingertips along like spiderwebs over a small, withered face. The texture kind of reminded her of clay. Like if she exerted a little pressure, she could shape these features as easily as she could with one of her sculptures. However, underneath that thin veneer of clay she felt the hard ridges of bone as there wasn’t much flesh left on her mother’s face. The little that there was clung to the bone underneath giving her face a distinctly sunken in feel to it as her fingers traced the sharp contours her cheek bones created.
Her fingers came to a stop just below her mother’s small, full lips. Adal felt as a tear blossomed in the corner of her eye then felt it fall before she heard it tap against her mother’s face. She smiled as her lips trembled.
“I love you mom. I- I’m going to miss you” She said softly, knowing that she would remember this moment for a long time to come. Drooly nudged her leg with his massive head. Adal reached out for him, scratching him behind the ears as she crouched beside her beloved dog. She kissed him on the forehead before resting the side of her face across the top of his head. “Oh Drooly, I’m going to be fine. We both knew this was coming and its alright to be sad sometimes.” She said. Her voice sounded like it was breaking. Inside though she felt as still as a glass of water.
With her hand she brushed past Drooly’s stiff outer coat to rub at the soft coat underneath. His smell was earthy and wholesome, body warm. Her closest friend in the world now that mother was gone. What was she going to do now?
Adal realized she’d never given it much thought, or rather she’d never given such thoughts any credibility. Her mother had been.. Overprotective for obvious reasons. Now though, what was she to do?
Taking in a deep steadying breath, she considered taking things piecemeal starting with what was going to happen before broaching the subject of what ifs. It would be simpler that way, and less overwhelming. Adal knew that outside of this room there were people waiting to carry on with her mother. It was time to say goodbye.
Standing up again, she felt her way to the table her mother lay upon. Her fingers touched the thick wool sleeve of her mother’s coat and walked there way down to her hand. Adal slipped her hand through her mother’s, giving it a gentle squeeze while she tried to remember when that pallid flesh was warm.
“Goodbye mother. We’re going to have a party for you now. I’ll make sure your going away party is a good one.” Adal said, letting go of her mothers hand as she took a step back. She could feel Drooly on her right, just barely brushing up against her thigh. Ready to guide her out if she needed it.
“Let’s go Drooly.”
* * * * *
The funeral was a cacophony of sound. People cheering, celebrating the fullness of her mother’s life instead of reflecting upon the end point of her cycle. People’s who’s voices Adal scarcely recognized, but who’s cheer was almost infectious as one after another came up to her with anecdotes about her mother. Particularly popular were ones about her wild youth, which Adal scarcely believed at first until she heard similar stories told from multiple sources. The most important thing she took from all of this was that her mother had a lot more friends than she had ever realized.
Adal was currently entertaining someone with a deep, rumbling voice that smelled like fresh cut grass cut with a whiff of ale. She did her best to smile pleasantly while the man regaled her with a tale of how her mother would sneak out most nights to get into all sorts of mischief around the peaks. Adal smiled when it was expected of her, and took a bite out of a pear during pauses in the man’s speech to hopefully get out of saying anything. It worked. For the moment anyways. The man needed little encouragement to continue regaling her with stories while she tried to seem thoughtful eating that piece of fruit.
Pears were her favorite. They had a mild, sweet, grainy flavor with soft skin that allowed her to take small, delicate bites.
Eventually the man wandered on to find a more conversational partner, and Adal started on her own wandering through what had been her family home. Here had once been a place she had known more intimately than any other in Lhavit, even Tain’s studio. Since her mother never moved anything from its assigned spot, she used to be able to walk this home unassisted.
Now though.. It was different. Furniture had been rearranged or taken out to accommodate the guests. Pieces to be sold off over the next few days as her mother’s estate was dissolved and turned into Kina. It felt wrong to leave it all behind. To part with all of this familiarity, but this was part of the process for her to move on with her life. She had no desire to remain here. Never had felt it to be her home. No, she needed to part with all of this to get on with her life. She would miss it. Of course she would, but it would be easier living on her own if she wasn’t surrounded by all of these memories dragging her back into the past. Adal needed a fresh start.
“Could you tell me a story of your mother?” A soft, feminine voice asked as Adal turned towards the scrape of boots. She smiled nervously. She recognized that voice.
“Nilen? What are you doing here?” She asked as she tugged at the scarf around her neck, and suddenly felt very flush. It had been a while since she had last spoken to the woman, but she’d always been very fond of Nilen whom had always been kind to her.
“What? You think I wouldn’t be here for your mother’s passing? Etna was a friend so of course I’d like to see her off.” Nilen replied. Adal heard her take a step closer, then felt the woman’s warm hands grab hers and then bring them together with her hands cupped between them.
“That’s not.. I just meant.. You’re a busy woman right?” Adal stammered.
“Not too busy to visit an old friend.” Nilen said. “Anyways, I was hoping I could get a story about your mother out of you. I’ve seen a lot of people telling you their own stories, but no one asking for yours so come with me dear, and tell me something special about your mother.” Nilen said, pulling her hands. Adal followed the woman, heard a window open, then felt a cool breeze and the warm sun against the right side of her face. Adal smiled.
“Well I don’t know if you knew, but she liked to sing when she didn’t think anyone was listening. One day I came home early from Tain’s studio, and I caught her humming a bawdy tune. Oh if only you could have heard how she fussed and stammered.” Adal giggled.
“An probably through in a few swats for good measure.” Nilen joked, gently touching Adal’s forearm.
“Oh there were some of those as well, but I was too busy laughing to notice.” Adal said with a smirk. Nilen squeezed, and Adal put her hand over Nilen’s. Feeling the smooth backside of the woman’s hand, Adal felt better than she had in days.
“What are you doing after this?” Adal asked, a thought on the tip of her tongue.
“I’m afraid its back to work for me. Why do you ask?” Nile asked as she guided Adal’s other hand up to her face. There Adal could feel the edges of the woman’s smile as her lips upturned into a grin beneath her finger tips.
“You remembered.” Adal said, half lost in wonder at the revelation. While her times with Nilen had been special for her, especially as a young girl with few friends, she hadn’t thought she’d be special enough to remember in this way.
“Of course I did.” Nilen said softly.
“I- I was just wondering if I could sculpt your face sometime.” Adal asked nervously. Nilen’s smile only widened under Adal’s hand, and gently she moved her hand gently across the curve of the woman’s cheek.
“Of course. Are you free later tonight? Lets say after dusk rest?” Nilen asked, and Adal eagerly nodded.
“Yes, I- where would you like me to meet you?” Adal asked almost breathlessly.
“How about here?” Nilen asked.
“That would be great.” Adal said, and found that she couldn’t stop grinning even if she wanted to.
“Okay then its settled.” Nilen said, and there was a chime that Adal felt Nilen turn her head towards.
“It looks like it is time to spread your mother’s ashes.” Nilen said.
“Will you come with me?” Adal asked, hopeful as she wavered there uncertainly for a long moment unwilling to part with Nilen’s company just yet if she could help it.
“Of course I will.” Nilen said, and together the two walked out of the house.
WC - 1,597
Her fingers came to a stop just below her mother’s small, full lips. Adal felt as a tear blossomed in the corner of her eye then felt it fall before she heard it tap against her mother’s face. She smiled as her lips trembled.
“I love you mom. I- I’m going to miss you” She said softly, knowing that she would remember this moment for a long time to come. Drooly nudged her leg with his massive head. Adal reached out for him, scratching him behind the ears as she crouched beside her beloved dog. She kissed him on the forehead before resting the side of her face across the top of his head. “Oh Drooly, I’m going to be fine. We both knew this was coming and its alright to be sad sometimes.” She said. Her voice sounded like it was breaking. Inside though she felt as still as a glass of water.
With her hand she brushed past Drooly’s stiff outer coat to rub at the soft coat underneath. His smell was earthy and wholesome, body warm. Her closest friend in the world now that mother was gone. What was she going to do now?
Adal realized she’d never given it much thought, or rather she’d never given such thoughts any credibility. Her mother had been.. Overprotective for obvious reasons. Now though, what was she to do?
Taking in a deep steadying breath, she considered taking things piecemeal starting with what was going to happen before broaching the subject of what ifs. It would be simpler that way, and less overwhelming. Adal knew that outside of this room there were people waiting to carry on with her mother. It was time to say goodbye.
Standing up again, she felt her way to the table her mother lay upon. Her fingers touched the thick wool sleeve of her mother’s coat and walked there way down to her hand. Adal slipped her hand through her mother’s, giving it a gentle squeeze while she tried to remember when that pallid flesh was warm.
“Goodbye mother. We’re going to have a party for you now. I’ll make sure your going away party is a good one.” Adal said, letting go of her mothers hand as she took a step back. She could feel Drooly on her right, just barely brushing up against her thigh. Ready to guide her out if she needed it.
“Let’s go Drooly.”
* * * * *
The funeral was a cacophony of sound. People cheering, celebrating the fullness of her mother’s life instead of reflecting upon the end point of her cycle. People’s who’s voices Adal scarcely recognized, but who’s cheer was almost infectious as one after another came up to her with anecdotes about her mother. Particularly popular were ones about her wild youth, which Adal scarcely believed at first until she heard similar stories told from multiple sources. The most important thing she took from all of this was that her mother had a lot more friends than she had ever realized.
Adal was currently entertaining someone with a deep, rumbling voice that smelled like fresh cut grass cut with a whiff of ale. She did her best to smile pleasantly while the man regaled her with a tale of how her mother would sneak out most nights to get into all sorts of mischief around the peaks. Adal smiled when it was expected of her, and took a bite out of a pear during pauses in the man’s speech to hopefully get out of saying anything. It worked. For the moment anyways. The man needed little encouragement to continue regaling her with stories while she tried to seem thoughtful eating that piece of fruit.
Pears were her favorite. They had a mild, sweet, grainy flavor with soft skin that allowed her to take small, delicate bites.
Eventually the man wandered on to find a more conversational partner, and Adal started on her own wandering through what had been her family home. Here had once been a place she had known more intimately than any other in Lhavit, even Tain’s studio. Since her mother never moved anything from its assigned spot, she used to be able to walk this home unassisted.
Now though.. It was different. Furniture had been rearranged or taken out to accommodate the guests. Pieces to be sold off over the next few days as her mother’s estate was dissolved and turned into Kina. It felt wrong to leave it all behind. To part with all of this familiarity, but this was part of the process for her to move on with her life. She had no desire to remain here. Never had felt it to be her home. No, she needed to part with all of this to get on with her life. She would miss it. Of course she would, but it would be easier living on her own if she wasn’t surrounded by all of these memories dragging her back into the past. Adal needed a fresh start.
“Could you tell me a story of your mother?” A soft, feminine voice asked as Adal turned towards the scrape of boots. She smiled nervously. She recognized that voice.
“Nilen? What are you doing here?” She asked as she tugged at the scarf around her neck, and suddenly felt very flush. It had been a while since she had last spoken to the woman, but she’d always been very fond of Nilen whom had always been kind to her.
“What? You think I wouldn’t be here for your mother’s passing? Etna was a friend so of course I’d like to see her off.” Nilen replied. Adal heard her take a step closer, then felt the woman’s warm hands grab hers and then bring them together with her hands cupped between them.
“That’s not.. I just meant.. You’re a busy woman right?” Adal stammered.
“Not too busy to visit an old friend.” Nilen said. “Anyways, I was hoping I could get a story about your mother out of you. I’ve seen a lot of people telling you their own stories, but no one asking for yours so come with me dear, and tell me something special about your mother.” Nilen said, pulling her hands. Adal followed the woman, heard a window open, then felt a cool breeze and the warm sun against the right side of her face. Adal smiled.
“Well I don’t know if you knew, but she liked to sing when she didn’t think anyone was listening. One day I came home early from Tain’s studio, and I caught her humming a bawdy tune. Oh if only you could have heard how she fussed and stammered.” Adal giggled.
“An probably through in a few swats for good measure.” Nilen joked, gently touching Adal’s forearm.
“Oh there were some of those as well, but I was too busy laughing to notice.” Adal said with a smirk. Nilen squeezed, and Adal put her hand over Nilen’s. Feeling the smooth backside of the woman’s hand, Adal felt better than she had in days.
“What are you doing after this?” Adal asked, a thought on the tip of her tongue.
“I’m afraid its back to work for me. Why do you ask?” Nile asked as she guided Adal’s other hand up to her face. There Adal could feel the edges of the woman’s smile as her lips upturned into a grin beneath her finger tips.
“You remembered.” Adal said, half lost in wonder at the revelation. While her times with Nilen had been special for her, especially as a young girl with few friends, she hadn’t thought she’d be special enough to remember in this way.
“Of course I did.” Nilen said softly.
“I- I was just wondering if I could sculpt your face sometime.” Adal asked nervously. Nilen’s smile only widened under Adal’s hand, and gently she moved her hand gently across the curve of the woman’s cheek.
“Of course. Are you free later tonight? Lets say after dusk rest?” Nilen asked, and Adal eagerly nodded.
“Yes, I- where would you like me to meet you?” Adal asked almost breathlessly.
“How about here?” Nilen asked.
“That would be great.” Adal said, and found that she couldn’t stop grinning even if she wanted to.
“Okay then its settled.” Nilen said, and there was a chime that Adal felt Nilen turn her head towards.
“It looks like it is time to spread your mother’s ashes.” Nilen said.
“Will you come with me?” Adal asked, hopeful as she wavered there uncertainly for a long moment unwilling to part with Nilen’s company just yet if she could help it.
“Of course I will.” Nilen said, and together the two walked out of the house.
WC - 1,597
