Fade Into You

A ghost yearning for their lover.

You sit outside your door. Slumped over, soft hands holding your face upright, forcing your weary heart to stay awake as you wait for me to return. I see the sorrow in your frown and the hope that burns behind those hazel eyes. No matter how hard you try to mask your wrinkles, they are revealed to me, for only I would be the one to see how wholeheartedly you have missed me. An invisible barrier keeps me from holding you in my arms, but I yearn for the day to come where you could see me as I see you now, sitting in front of our doorstep. 

I promised you the day I left that I would return, but even after finding my way back to you, I have never felt more lost. I promised you I would see you again. I see you now. I never imagined you wouldn't be able to see me. I’m right here, standing in front of you, feeling helpless. I cannot fathom a reality where I cannot wipe those tears from your eyes as you weep my name under your breath.

It is truly, most ineffably, worse than death.

You rise to stand in front of your door as the distant thunder groans and mumbles. Pebbles of water begin to spill from the sky. Your face tilts upward to embrace my tears I shed for you, a crack of a smile forming as I touch your skin.

Your soft smile dissipates, replaced by a tortured look of disbelief. I watch as you lift your trembling hand to cup my face. In that single moment, I feel your warm embrace, your gaze reflecting into mine. But as fleeting as rain, I fall back into the earth, releasing the tether that binds me to you, so you can learn to let me go.

Author's Note

Perceive this in your own way as if you have you felt such loss. Did you feel an emotional connection? Would you consider this more of a poem or short passage or story?

Reviews

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Hi Isabelle, I honesty feel this has the making of a short story. There is so many questions that the reader is left with about the characters in this piece that could better guide the reader towards resonance and relatability. A while back I submitted a short single half page story about the passing of my father. The story is called In Moments. I really like what you've written so far and to me it just begs for a little more revealing and context. But what you've written so far is very emotive which I try to strive for when I write as well. I would encourage you to go a little further. It doesn't have to be long but just a little more depth. I wish I had done so when I wrote my story but it was too difficult emotionally to relive. Thank you for sharing your artistry with us. CLE.