the Heart Book

read it and find out

Running. Always running. Pausing, kneeling, breathing. Come.
 
 I lift my heavy head and blink away the snowflakes from my lashes.
 A deep baritone moaning, the swish of settling snow on the flagstone  pathway. A gentle drumbeat of my heart. Silence. Come.
 With quivering fingers I draw back my burlap cloak and pull out a thick leather book. Heat pulses through my fingers and I let out a sigh of relief. It is still there.
 Stand. Run. Come.
 I stand shakily and risk a quick look behind me. All I see in the swirling snow and the darkness of the woods that surround the path, closing it, there is no way back.  I shiver. The only way to go is forward. Come. With a heavy heart I break into a run, the clack of my studded boots diminished by the snow.
 That is right, my child, come to me.
 “I am coming,” I whisper, but my voice is scarcely my own. I clutch the book tightly to my chest and feel it’s warmth spreading through my breastbone, warming my heart. Arlamiti was right. Once you start there is no looking back, no going back.
 Forget your brother, she says, come to me.
 “I am…yours,” I say.
 Mine mine mine mine.
 “I am not…my own anymore. I am yours. I belong to you. I will come to you. I will bring myself to you.”
 Mine mine mine…
 I fall to my knees and sob. I am hers, hers, hers…
 “Arlamiti,” I whisper, “I am sorry I left you. I am hers now. I am bringing my Heart Book to her. I will not be back.”
 Mine mine mine mine…
 “Yours,” I say, and I stand up and keep running.

Reviews

[Mark D]

Really liked this, very interesting. Thanks

[Farah]

This is really good! I love the imagery you've used. It's really effective. =D