The Nerine. An endless expanse of dark sand and water. Standing upon the precipice, Nymf gazed down the cliff-face. The quiet, rhythmic crashing of the waves offered their comfort like a soothing whisper as a warm gust of wind blew back her mess of copper tipped hair. Dead blue eyes studied the distance from the top of the cliff and the stones below. Yes, she believed that it would be enough. If she kept her wings pinned she would meet her end quickly, if not painlessly.
Pain did not deter her. Relief inspired her.
A heavy sob rose up from the barrels of her chest and threatened to strangle her. She closed her eyes against it and, instead of a comforting blackness, she was greeted by the memory of his face. A lone tear escaped past her lashes and rolled down her cheek. She refused to accept that he was gone. For hours she’d expected to see him emerge from around every bend. Even a top the cliff she braced herself for the sound of his familiar hoof-steps. Disappointment filled every empty moment.
Pain raced through her abdomen as a sticky trickle of fluid ran down the length of her back legs. Emptiness filled her womb as her body worked to relieve itself of the reminder that a life had once resided there. Her mind raced to erase all thoughts of his perfect little cream body. The hope that her ‘flutter’ had represented had been stolen away from her with one deliberate blow to her enlarged abdomen.
He could have let me go!
As her valiant protector fell, the aggressors had chased her across the land. They’d threatened her with gnashing teeth and taunting calls. They wished to destroy the life inside of her so that they could plant a new one. Monsters, they were. Pure evil that had stolen everything away from her.
In the valley below the cliff where she stood she imagined the perfect colt she had struggled to deliver. Through her laboring she had hoped beyond reason that he’d survive, that he could be her light in the midst of so much darkness. Yet, as she rose to inspect his fragile pale body, she knew that his soul had already departed to be with his father. For a long while she had laid beside him, searching for any sign that his heart was beating. She counted every rib, every marking of the son that she’d lost.
Now, there was nothing left but a darkness. She opened her eyes and studied the gathering of storm clouds just beyond the horizon. A low roll of thunder traveled across the choppy water and her ears pricked forward to meet it’s promise. A storm was coming. Only then did she notice the brisk wind that ripped through the tall sea-grass. Crabs skittered across the surface of the black sand towards the waters edge, readying themselves against the oncoming torrent. Theirs was a much simpler existence, it seemed. Devoid of heartbreak and trials their world was the ocean, the sand and all that it contained. Perhaps she would join them in her next life. How appropriate that she would be reborn in the place where her life had ended.
Pain did not deter her. Relief inspired her.
A heavy sob rose up from the barrels of her chest and threatened to strangle her. She closed her eyes against it and, instead of a comforting blackness, she was greeted by the memory of his face. A lone tear escaped past her lashes and rolled down her cheek. She refused to accept that he was gone. For hours she’d expected to see him emerge from around every bend. Even a top the cliff she braced herself for the sound of his familiar hoof-steps. Disappointment filled every empty moment.
Pain raced through her abdomen as a sticky trickle of fluid ran down the length of her back legs. Emptiness filled her womb as her body worked to relieve itself of the reminder that a life had once resided there. Her mind raced to erase all thoughts of his perfect little cream body. The hope that her ‘flutter’ had represented had been stolen away from her with one deliberate blow to her enlarged abdomen.
He could have let me go!
As her valiant protector fell, the aggressors had chased her across the land. They’d threatened her with gnashing teeth and taunting calls. They wished to destroy the life inside of her so that they could plant a new one. Monsters, they were. Pure evil that had stolen everything away from her.
In the valley below the cliff where she stood she imagined the perfect colt she had struggled to deliver. Through her laboring she had hoped beyond reason that he’d survive, that he could be her light in the midst of so much darkness. Yet, as she rose to inspect his fragile pale body, she knew that his soul had already departed to be with his father. For a long while she had laid beside him, searching for any sign that his heart was beating. She counted every rib, every marking of the son that she’d lost.
Now, there was nothing left but a darkness. She opened her eyes and studied the gathering of storm clouds just beyond the horizon. A low roll of thunder traveled across the choppy water and her ears pricked forward to meet it’s promise. A storm was coming. Only then did she notice the brisk wind that ripped through the tall sea-grass. Crabs skittered across the surface of the black sand towards the waters edge, readying themselves against the oncoming torrent. Theirs was a much simpler existence, it seemed. Devoid of heartbreak and trials their world was the ocean, the sand and all that it contained. Perhaps she would join them in her next life. How appropriate that she would be reborn in the place where her life had ended.