Spoilers: 18th & Potomac
Disclaimer: The West Wing and its characters belong to Aaron Sorkin and et al.
Babylon 5 was created by J. Michael Straczynski and is the property of WB. The
quote is from the Babylon 5 episode: "And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder" (written
by J.M.S. (c) 1998) and was spoken by Delenn.
Author's note: You might want some tissue nearby, just in case (I wasn't able to
write this without some tears). This has been rattling around in my head since
the episode and wouldn't let me work on my history take home until it was
written out on paper/screen.
~~~~~~~~
The light burned long after the staff left for the evening. This wasn't any
ordinary light; this light was left burning to remember. What was it that Zo'
said when I told her? No, it wasn't Zo'; it was a character on a science fiction
show that I caught her watching late one night.
==
We're all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars, molecules that do
not understand politics, policies and differences. In a billion years we, foolish
molecules forget who we are and where we came from. Desperate acts of ego. We
give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps. And pretend our light is better
than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that live
inside us. A spark that tells us: you should know better. The flame also reminds
us that life is precious, as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone
forever. And there never be another quite like it.
==
No, there would never be anyone like his friend Delores Landingham.
Why did I ask her to come back here with her new car tonight? I could have
"kicked the tires" in the morning. Why did I have to give her a hard time about
paying sticker price?' I stared at the candle that I lit at the beginning of
our meeting. Abby had come in earlier to sit with me, but left when I refused
to talk. 'I know I should talk about it, but I can't, not now at least. I
should have told her my granddaughter's nickname for her, "the Cookie Lady."
The staff didn't know how to react when I told them about the accident. Toby
looked down at his hands; Josh and Sam stared at the papers in front of them.
The one I'm most worried about is CJ. She just looked at me; I could see the
pain behind her eyes. No one really knew anything about the friendship that she
and Delores had, but it was one that she would never forget. Delores was like a
surrogate mother to us. She rewarded us with a smile and if we were especially
nice or did a good thing, one of the cookies from her cookie jar.
The wax pooled on the table, maybe I should have placed something beneath the
candle to catch the wax. Rays of sunlight started to break the darkness. It
was morning, time for me to start the day. But there will be no arguing this
morning, no puns, or unusual trivia, just a silence that no one wants to fill.
If only I hadn't asked her to bring the car here last night, I would be arguing
about eating my vegetables with her.
Disclaimer: The West Wing and its characters belong to Aaron Sorkin and et al.
Babylon 5 was created by J. Michael Straczynski and is the property of WB. The
quote is from the Babylon 5 episode: "And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder" (written
by J.M.S. (c) 1998) and was spoken by Delenn.
Author's note: You might want some tissue nearby, just in case (I wasn't able to
write this without some tears). This has been rattling around in my head since
the episode and wouldn't let me work on my history take home until it was
written out on paper/screen.
~~~~~~~~
The light burned long after the staff left for the evening. This wasn't any
ordinary light; this light was left burning to remember. What was it that Zo'
said when I told her? No, it wasn't Zo'; it was a character on a science fiction
show that I caught her watching late one night.
==
We're all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars, molecules that do
not understand politics, policies and differences. In a billion years we, foolish
molecules forget who we are and where we came from. Desperate acts of ego. We
give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps. And pretend our light is better
than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that live
inside us. A spark that tells us: you should know better. The flame also reminds
us that life is precious, as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone
forever. And there never be another quite like it.
==
No, there would never be anyone like his friend Delores Landingham.
Why did I ask her to come back here with her new car tonight? I could have
"kicked the tires" in the morning. Why did I have to give her a hard time about
paying sticker price?' I stared at the candle that I lit at the beginning of
our meeting. Abby had come in earlier to sit with me, but left when I refused
to talk. 'I know I should talk about it, but I can't, not now at least. I
should have told her my granddaughter's nickname for her, "the Cookie Lady."
The staff didn't know how to react when I told them about the accident. Toby
looked down at his hands; Josh and Sam stared at the papers in front of them.
The one I'm most worried about is CJ. She just looked at me; I could see the
pain behind her eyes. No one really knew anything about the friendship that she
and Delores had, but it was one that she would never forget. Delores was like a
surrogate mother to us. She rewarded us with a smile and if we were especially
nice or did a good thing, one of the cookies from her cookie jar.
The wax pooled on the table, maybe I should have placed something beneath the
candle to catch the wax. Rays of sunlight started to break the darkness. It
was morning, time for me to start the day. But there will be no arguing this
morning, no puns, or unusual trivia, just a silence that no one wants to fill.
If only I hadn't asked her to bring the car here last night, I would be arguing
about eating my vegetables with her.