La première étoile de la nuitA Chapter by NicoleTranslation- The First Star of the NightTWO MONTHS EARLIER- I don’t believe that liars burn in the
flames of hell for two reasons. One, I can’t believe in hell at all, and
two, that’d be sentencing myself to eternal damnation. I think this is what
happens to the liars; they become frozen. And if ever there
was a night for the soul to freeze, this was it. The sky had been simmered in
ice, and left to dry in an artic wind. Flames don’t actually sound that bad at
the moment. As my thoughts turn from
fire and ice, and back to the world I’m in, the wind picks up, trying to
penetrate my bones. The salt from the ocean carries on it, and busily entangles
itself within my hair. The cliff’s edge overlooks the sea in an almost
dangerous way, but I know I’m safe as long as I don’t venture too far. The sun
has already set, and the shadows blend in with the soft darkness. Everything
seemed to be holding its breath; waiting for the first star to come out. That’s
one thing about life I can count on; there will always be a first. Everything
else has been messed up lately, but they haven’t found a way to eradicate firsts
just yet. It’s as if everything has been cut from the ribbon of time, leaving
us to scramble around the fraying edges. Of course, that’s how the dictatorship
wants it. Blood and cut throat conformity. My fingers run through my regulation length
hair. It lies just below the shoulders, just like it should, except for one
shorter strand in the front which curls to just barely touch the tip of my
nose. I tuck it behind my ear and wait. Slowly, to the left the first star
comes out, quickly followed by others. The wind seems to breathe a sigh of
relief, and I can feel the knot in my stomach untying… they haven’t found a way
to control the stars at least. Off a bit, I can
hear the quiet padding of feet. They draw closer, carrying with them the coarse
breathing of William. He stops a few feet behind me, as polite as ever.
“M’Lady?” he asks quietly. I know what’s coming next. It was high time that we
did move, but I do love the sea shore. “We have to move again, don’t we…”
he shifts nervously from one foot to the other. He hates upsetting me. “They’re closing in on us, I saw
your picture at the market last time, remember?” he steps forward and sits
cross-legged next to me so that our knees touch. “We’ll come back to the shore
again… maybe not this one, but we will.” “Don’t patronize me, Will.” I
squint up into the sky. “Just ‘cause I was a spoiled child doesn’t make me a pottery
doll.” I shift my weight and begin to draw in the dirt. He smiles. “True, you’re a heck-of-a lot
stronger than those fairytale princesses.” “I’m not a princess.” He shrugs and reclines back,
putting his hands behind him. “Princess, Countess, close enough. Either way
your existence is treason.” I stare intently
at the dirt trying to not let him see my eyes water up. He’s right, of course.
He usually is. That doesn’t make it easy. I feel a slight pressure on my knee
as he places his hand on it. I look away so he can’t figure out how good it
feels. “You’ve been tough enough for one day, Morgana. Let’s go home one last
time.” He stands, pulling me to my feet. “And then to market tomorrow?” He sighs. “And then to market
tomorrow, but until then, let’s just worry about sleep.” © 2012 NicoleReviews
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1 Review Added on August 25, 2012 Last Updated on August 25, 2012 Tags: star, alone, princess, royal, government AuthorNicoleAboutI'm not a normal person. That'd be too easy. "Imperfection is beauty, maddness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." They tell me I wouldn't last one d.. more..Writing
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