Ghost of Christmas Past

Mother,

Your blood.

It's spilling all over the marble floor.

Mother,

Your blood.

It's sinking through my toes.

Mother,

Your blood.

It keeps chasing me. It keeps haunting me.

Mother,

Your blood.

I can't get it out of my hair……

I can't scrap it out of my flesh……

I can't spit it out of my mouth……

Mother,

Flesh like ribbons, Draped over his antlers.

Mother,

Your womb, inside out.

Birth at the grave, death at the womb.

Mother,

He laughs. And keeps on laughing.

Mother,

You are silent. Nevermore.

You are gone. Evermore.

Mother,

Whence am I to die?
Whence am I to die?
Whence am I to die too?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Ghost of Christmas Present

Starfire Whimpered and jerked her hand back.

I sighed. "Starfire, I won't be able to heal your hand if you don't hold still."

"I am sorry Raven, I can not 'help it'… ohhh! The pain!"

"It's a Paper cut Star."

"Yes, I do not understand the need for the bio chemical product with sharp edges for the storing of knowledge!"

"……"

"On Tamaran all our works are stored on digital pads… I estimate they would be nearly one million."

"……"

"Raised to the power of one million."

"……"

"Today I was forced to fold through three hundred pages of your 'paper' to read the works of Gorlark of Eredar!"

"…Poetry?"

"Nursery Rhyme."

"Ah…"

I finally heal the cut.

"Thank you, Friend Raven."

"… I don't get it, Starfire. You're the toughest member of the team; I've seen you tackle Cinderblock one on one… but you can't handle a Paper cut?"

She pauses. "When I am in battle, Raven." She says, slowly. "I stand ready to summon endless joy or burning fires of righteous fury. Tamaranians are a warrior people at the heart; we accept pain."

"……"

"But I do not accept pain when it is not necessary. Pain is Relative."

"……" Yeah… all said and done…… Pain is Relative……

"……"

"Titans. Trouble."

…

…

KAAABBBOOOOMMMM!

"It's cinderblock. Maybe Plasmus too."

We all nod. We knew the world that was being left unsaid.

Slade.

CRRAAACKKKK!

"Starfire…?"
"Yes, Raven?"

"Don't get into the muddle of the thing, this time. Stick to my shields."

She hesitates.

Hesitates……

A nod……

BBOOOOOMMMM!
All said and done, Pain is relative.

Ghost of Christmas yet to come

There is something beautiful about it.

How the crystal replaces blood. The smooth marble swirls and whorls in the place of sinew. How the pain and fear are etched into their faces for all eternity.

Something beautiful and terrible.

"I am sorry."

Choices. Aren't they the little paradox? Life is a straight line; you see the branches and possibilities as you stare down on the abyss of the past.

"If you have ears left to hear this: I am Sorry."

But if you take a different path. Choose a different Choice; you wouldn't be you. Someone else would be staring down at a different abyss. Asking a different a set of questions.

Did I have to kill them?
"I always told you. Always. It was destiny. A prophecy. You could have done nothing…… I am sorry."

Ever the little paradox.

"……"

Why?

They ask though their dumb mouths. My answers do not quench them.

Blind eyes stare at me, accusing. Damming.

"I am sorry."