Hello All! Sorry I'm a little late with this one... I've had a lot on my mind recently and tried to get as much sleep as I possibly could! But... Better Nate than Lever right? ;)
-MaggslovesPerry (ENJOY)
J:
"Hello?" Skye stood at the entrance of their room. She had been out way too late: an away game and then an after party.
There was a shuffling noise and Skye leaned over to turn her desk lamp on.
Jane was sitting in a pile of papers. "My pride, Skye." She announced with a wobbling chin. "Is broken."
Skye leaned forward and picked up the top page of the pile. "Dear Jane," She read. "It is of the utmost importance that you understand this isn't a break-up... Well not quite."
Skye sat down next to her sister.
"It was a break-up, wasn't it?" She said.
Jane nodded, tears streaming down her small cheeks. Skye reached out and pulled her younger sister's waist closer onto her own and let Jane lean down onto her lap. She rubbed circles onto Jane's back and whispered a mantra of encouragements until Jane had finally fallen asleep.
The next morning Skye was standing over me, brandishing a handful of notes from…
"Your latest novel!" Skye shouted. "Is all over my side of the room."
I sat up. "I'm sorry I'll—"
"Pick it up right now? Thanks for that Jane." She was still frowning.
I groaned. "Fine, fine. Go along. "
She stayed and watched me gather up the four pieces of paper that had flown across the line and shove them back up on the shelf.
"Thank you." She said daintily. "Don't do it again, if you please."
I smiled down and turned the radio on. My legs curled up to my chest, I pulled the nearest page toward me. Skye snorted and closed the door behind her.
When she returned, shaking her wet hair away from her face, she smiled over at me.
"Still writing?"
"Forever." I shoved the page aside and jumped across the gap between our beds. Sitting on her bed, I watched her pull jeans on.
"I'm going to Quigley woods." She told me. "Interested?"
I looked at her. "Do I have to put pants on?"
A moment later we were slipping out the back door and jumping the hedges out onto the cul-de-sac. Skye ran ahead but stopped when she reached the woods to wait for me.
"Let's go." She said. "I'm sure the stream is nice enough this morning for peace offerings."
Along the way we both filled our pockets with acorns and little stones until, laughing, we rubbed our hands and arms and walked out onto the bridge. I went first, dropping each little treasure into the river and naming each person who loved me.
The day was just beginning; browns and greens popping out in the sunlight and my hands were warming up again.
Iantha.
Skye was waiting, leaning back against the railing next to me, her eyes on the birds rushing about above us.
Daddy.
I could see the sun through an overhanging of leaves. The stream below was clear and rushing, the noise pounding along through the peaceful forest.
Ben.
I watched a pebble hit the water and skip off rocks as it flew downstream.
Batty.
Skye made a tutting noise. I always took too long.
Rosalind.
My red hands found the last thing I had brought; I curled my fingers.
Jeffrey.
The last acorn hit the water and disappeared, bobbing along under the bridge.
Skye.