A Shadow's Depth

 

A Shadow’s Depth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes
a darkened mirror

reflects with
unexpected clarity

A mirage
of deeper grays

forms substance
under scrutiny

 

~S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~1~

 

Twelve hours from now will be the start of Twilight’s Gathering.  It’s where Dreams go when dawn ascends and the prospect of fading is too much to bear.  Some, though, are inadvertently left behind and are never heard from again.  Even remembrance of them is lost.

On the fringe of preparations, the forgotten ones are ever watchful.  To stay behind by choice this time is more tempting than they dare say.  Yet within them a dream’s essence remains and the pull either way is great.

It has been Shadow’s responsibility to keep these forgotten ones safe.  And this she did, from the moment they met.

 

 

 She started out alone, so she thought.  There were actually three that were separated from the others.  The twins, Clarity and Mirage, stumbled upon Shadow along a cliff’s edge.  Stretched out on her belly, lying as still as a stone, she watched the final stages of the gathering.  The wind lifted her raven locks of hair in swirls and carried her silence across the valley.  It was too late and she was unaffected.  The twins closed their eyes as the light brightened.

         

          “The winds are picking up.  We should find shelter.”

Shadow assumes the role meant for her and the others are comforted by this.  She finally turns and faces Clarity first.  Her angelic face has already been touched by the first shades of gray.  Along her hairline and as marble, it appears.  Mirage takes her sister’s hand and nods, ready to go. 

Along the path that brought them to the cliff are miniscule wishes, still shimmering and pearlescent.  It is the dew their world drinks in.  Normally the wind is but a breeze and it sings, softly and with warmth.  There is a breathless warning in the words now.

“We must hurry,” Shadow implores.

 The trees along the edge of the forest part to show the way, the ruffling as frenzied as their footsteps.  Wisps of Shadow’s hair break free and rise as mist taking to the sky.  Mirage tightens her hold on Clarity, sensing her sister’s longing to drift along after the dark mist.

“We are here.”

Shadow looks over her shoulder just as Clarity’s eyes turn from blue to gray, like a sky clouding over.  Looking to Mirage and taking a hand from both, she promises that everything will be okay as she steps backwards into the cave’s open mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ~2~ 

 

 Shadow can see them making the same mistakes as before.  Dreams with troubled awakenings are accounted for but only in number.  They are weighted and solemn. It has gone unnoticed and Shadow is convinced that they will be forgotten too and that, before long, each will be a distant dream.

 

 

 

All of the Dreams drape themselves with indigo tulle, flowing and with frayed edges.  The breeze whispers of Twilight and all eyes shine with unshed tears.  Shadow allows hers to fall unchecked.  Staying hidden away after the Dreams’ return was hard enough but she didn’t expect to see Aura, as radiant as the others and having forgotten all about her. 

There is a pause in the breeze and its song falls below a whisper.  The time has come for the Dreams to reflect on their awakenings, to remember where they came from individually.  Their eyes drift close as the breeze returns, bringing with it a different song.  For those who are weighted, though, it’s as if the breeze sings a mournful song and they are unaware that they’ve taken a step back.  Shadow sees herself in these weighted ones as uncertainty flits across their faces.  Her awakening and theirs are not pleasant ones to reflect on.

 

 

Aura opens her eyes to a glimpse of Shadow stepping behind a painted depiction of Twilight’s Gathering, vibrant colors on silk. The artwork hangs upon nothing and hovers a few inches from the floor.  It is backlit by floating, twinkling wishes and stretches the length of the courtyard.  In the painting, Twilight stands tall, his arms outstretched, as wisps of ascending Dreams swirl around him.  As Aura moves away from the group standing together, her attention is drawn from what she thought she saw to the details of Twilight’s face. His expression changes to reflect the Dream standing before the painting.  His current expression is welcoming and his reflective skin captures the varied shades of blue of the Dreams’ attire gathered in the open courtyard.  Aura is drawn to the almond-shaped eyes of Twilight and reaches out as the silken fabric billows.  The breeze is once again changing, signaling the eleventh hour. Twilight’s expression mirrors hers and Aura smiles as she rejoins the others.

Shadow witnesses this shared serenity and wonders what to tell the forgotten ones when she returns to them.  Shadow allows her hand to drift upwards to touch the silver trim that frames the image in front of her.  The fabric pulls taut as if bracing itself.  Twilight has not forgotten her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~3~

 

 As Shadow moves along the edges of the community, she sees that not much has changed since the last gathering.  Dwellings nearly blend into the lush canopy of green, with elegant columns of pristine white peeking through to contrast with simplicity.  Her home was where the iris grew only in striking and bold shades and all of the neighbors wanted to know the secret. 

She is drawn closer unexpectedly and finds her hand pressed to the door. With a sigh she slides her hand across and then down a cool plate of glass.  Her home is opened to her again.  The entryway has been redone and Shadow is facing a darkened mirror.  She sees the same touches of grey that appeared along Clarity’s hairline and the strength that she thought was hers seemed diluted.  She wonders why this mirror has been placed here.  Shadow steps back and, looking to her side, sees the family portrait still hanging.  It was Twilight who begot her, but Aura gave Shadow her light.

 

It was this light that led the twins along the cliff’s edge and to Shadow during the last gathering.  Though she was found, Shadow felt that what she was looking for finally stood before her.  Awakening from the depths of gray had left her disconnected from the Dreams around her.   Shadow found her conflictions taking shape and, in Clarity, could see how much she truly wanted to drift away and disappear into dawn.  Shadow spoke softly to Clarity, while Mirage morphed into a soul mate. Time passes both quickly and slowly when counted as winks and breaths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

~4~

Mirage anxiously awaits Shadow’s return and his face relaxes as memories come to mind.  His reality was different from other Dreams; his purpose, to bring about change and even embody this change.  And as Clarity began to fade as the grey that touched her spread, Shadow lost some of her indifference and feared that she would soon follow.  It was then that Mirage had to choose. 

Shadow looked to Mirage as soft features slowly changed and a stiff breeze whisked away long, auburn waves leaving behind soft, short curls.  Taking hold of Shadow’s hands, Mirage completes a metamorphosis that forever links them.  Some of her gray is now his.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~5~

Twilight watches Shadow’s unease as she backs away.  But as she turns from the portrait and sees Twilight observing, strength is drawn from her connection to Mirage and the darkness in her eyes begins to swirl.  Though part of her is borne of a troubled awakening she will not embrace only this. 

Twilight’s slight smile as he steps back into the portrait reflects Shadow’s.  Let the rest of them run from daybreak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written for a Short Story Genre Challenge

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi



© 2007 SilentDream (All rights reserved) 11/18/07

(edits: June 2009)

 

Author's Note

I'm still learning how to use this site. There is supposed to be a color shift in text... from black to grey to silver ...for present to past. Once I figure out how to fix that, I'll edit :) (Done!)

Reviews

[Everett DeValle]

Zsanece, your writing Always inspires me...I needed a SilentDream writing, to read...I hope your endeavors in writing is working out, and please tell Angeleyes, "Hello".

I read this twice. :)

[Inda Lauryn]

This pieces feels very abstract, but you do have a poetic flow and a gift for imagery. The tone is very otherworldly, which lends itself to the content perfectly.