Life is like a box of Chocolates... You never know what your gonna get (Forest Gump)
Yup, and he's totally right, I know nothing I say here will take the anger away, but I am sorry to have left this story frozen for so long, losing one's writing mojo is horrible... when I started writing this story I knew exactly where I wanted them to go, what they needed to do to get there and how many chapters it would take, but when I got to chapter 59 there was a new idea that just didn't want to leave me alone, so I followed it, it will still end where I want it to, and there will be a HEA, well not a convensional one, but I think you'll all be happy with it, from this chapter on, there going to be longer, and I think I'll be updating sooner. I've started a new story, that I'm not sure I'll be posting soon, it's what saved this one. No worries I'll finish this one before I post the next one.
OK, so Thanks for hanging in there, I hope you enjoy it!
And see you at the bottom.
Chapter 87
My eyes where flowed with water, my trout was dry but not unbearably so, I had a headache and my stomach was growling.
I raised myself from the soft, fresh smelling bed and lifting my hands above my head to stretch my aching bones; the loud crack that was heard startled me. I then moved carefully to sit and lowered my feet to the floor. As I looked down the picture that met me was some what comforting, pinkish skin, red toenail polish, a little cracked and chipped but still there.
The nightgown deep purple and faded in some areas, my hands had seen better days, wrinkled and withered from the elements and time.
Hands that may have feed people, or helped them grow and nurtured them, hands that may have done good as well as had power. Hands that may have brought pleasure and even ecstasy to someone. Hands that now looked fragile and old.
Looking up to the far side of the large brightly lite room I found the reflection on the far front wall, a large gilded mirror stood against the onyx black background, a large olive green chair right beside it. On the left corner of the room a floor to ceiling window that joined the corner of the room, the green and black window treatments with specks of gold gave the room character.
On the other side of the room a two door entrance in dark black wood with golden accents, the walls all painted in a series of golden tones, shading from marigold to a deep opaque gold that accented the tall lines of the ceiling. The room was large and the little furniture scattered around made it look sumptuous and rich. The bed that I now sat on was a four poster tall king sized in dark black iron, the intricate design had vines and small flowers to the simple observer but if you looked carefully in some areas it looked like little faces all with pained expressions some reaching out in supplication; the linens on the bed where a deep gold, the carpet that was at my feel also that same gold color.
I stood trying to walk to my reflection in the mirror, but all I could see was the image of an older woman with dark black long hair surrounding her white skin. Her dark eyes told secrets and experiences beyond what I could ever guess, she was beautiful in her age, she still held the markings of a beautifully desirable woman, her straight nose and full lips, her high cheek bones and angular jaw, she was quite intriguing.
The body that accompanied the face was slender but curvaceous, long shapely legs, rounded sexually enticing hips that could probably had bared children or comforted many lovers, all ending in a slender waist, too small for someone of this age, abundant breasts supple and round; long slender neck and arms lean and slightly muscular, in whole the body of an elegant dancer.
I look over to the side where the window glows from the sunlight, the heavy curtains slightly move from the air coming in. And there I get my first emotions it seams in a long time. Longing, despair, wanting. I move quickly to the window and look out into the city, but it's not what I'm expecting, the city has morphed into a small villa.
The streets are stone, clean, the people walking by look well dressed. It seams like everyone is rushing to get to some place. And there pasted on a light post I see a red piece of paper with a flamenco dancer and some black letters. From this distance I can't make out the words but the red of the paper has peaked my interest.
After washing up and picking out clothing, walking down the long and wide hallway to an also richly decorated room that houses a tall white marble fireplace and long comfortable looking black leather and oak-wood living room furniture, the bright canary yellow door to the kitchen an interesting contrast to the subtle lines of the décor.
Approaching the kitchen I can smell the coffee brewing on the sleek chrome appliance, the place looks like a huge mirror, everything is chromed even the small doors to the pantries, and the kitchen bar as well as the surfaces. Guided by instinct as well as a very strict routine I approached the corner of the kitchen getting a hunter green cup from out of the covert pouring myself a cup of the deliciously smelling dark liquid. Opening another small door I picked out a color matching serving dish with the ingredients for a cold breakfast, I moved around the kitchen slowly toasting some bread and assembling a sandwich which I ate sitting on one of the comfortable stools, picking up and pressing a button on a long sleek silver remote from the counter the far wall illuminated and imagery appeared, soft noises and voices emitted from it… the news. I watched for several minutes all the comings and goings of the world, as I filled my empty stomach.
Filling full I took the dishes and cup used, rinsing them and placing them on the dishwasher, and as I dried my hands on the green kitchen towel I turned the screen off, walking to the other room, I picked up the bright green jacked that matched my dress and prepared to walk out to the street.
I walk out of the lonely and large apartment, locking the grand door, and turning to the elevator, as I walk I adjusted the black handbag that hung from my shoulder. The clicking of my heels echoes on the solitary hallway. As the doors from the elevator open I get a glimpse of my reflection of the back of the mirrored wall, gray skin and rotting flesh, bones exposed and long, tall black wings coming out of my shoulder blades, the clothing looks foreign, too wrong on this body, that is too emaciated to be alive, the black sheath dress I wore looked like it could be hanging on a wooden stick, the bright green jacket brought out the color of the jagged wounds on my neck and the puss coming out of them, but the most shocking of features was the dark hollow holes where my eyes should be, the whole picture seamed brought out from a horror film, it would have frighten anyone.
I turned closing my eyes steadying myself, taking deep breaths, I had not seen this atrocity, I had felt the decay during the time that I'd been in that place, that now had seamed like purgatory; suspended, not necessarily here nor there, guarded, where we waited but nothing really happened.
The dinging of the elevator signaling its arrival to the lobby floor brought me out of my sudden hellish remembrances.
I walked swiftly out of the building in to the hustle and bustle of the street. Turning to my left and crossing I walked with a destination in mind, one that I would have guessed that the woman that I now invaded the body of was quite familiar with.
The long window darkened and the tall graying wooden doors meet me and I produced a key from my handbag and opened the place up.
As I walked in and found the light switch the red letters on the display window came in to view, yrutloV eD airelaG, I walked towards the window and light the spotlights that illuminated the sculptures on display here, I moved as if on a routine of who knows how long around the establishment, dusting and arraigning brochures and cleaning some class cases as well as sweeping and putting papers and answering messages from the previous day.
At noon the doors where open for business, the lights in the inside where completely lit for the different paintings and pieces of art on display.
I walked the room several times making sure that the new paintings on our "Death" exhibit where properly hung and the lighting was not damaging the pieces.
The artist was an unknown; she had had anonymous benefactors that had send me a piece a long time ago, and while I had contacted them, they where out of the country for a long time and had not been available, the artist had disappeared and later found dead at her apartment with several gunshot wounds. She was young, and very talented I still kept the first piece in my apartment, the simple and cheap type of paper that the drawing was made in was that of regular school type construction paper, the material's used to create the piece where simple watercolors and shading with graying pencil.
The couple that had visited me two years ago, had been eager to sell the different pieces, but I'd been reluctant since I was closing this gallery. A few years back my last lover Salvatore had gone to New York on a scouting trip and had fallen in love with the artist, he now lived with the man in a rat infested studio apartment in the Bronx and was quite happy, I for one had gotten used to being alone so I didn't even blink when he send word of his permanent absence.
The murmurings about a new artist where always something to celebrate something to look forward to. The cancer had spread now and I had been thinking of leaving this place and retiring to the Rancheria that I had inherited from my family years ago, my great-aunt had been traveling since the death of her husband and I'd been wanting to see her again, she was a traveling gypsy much to the dismay of our family, she had been shone by my grandfather, and we where all forbidden to utter her name in his house. When he died he left the property and all the holdings and stocks and bond to my older sister but she too was very sick, before anything would happened to her she signed everything over to me, I now being in precarious health had no one to give this family inheritance to. Death had always surrounded me, haunted me, I felt alive while having it close, I knew it was unusual to feel this way, but I wasn't sure if this was me thinking or the presence I could feel inside me, moving impatiently as if roaming a cage like a wild animal.
After the circumstances that saved my life the first time I wasn't really sure if I was dead or just awaiting my turn.
I had been on this quest for a long time, he smiled at me once. I looked into its eyes and was rewarded, that night the piece of metal didn't hit me, but my husband.
The jagged edge just graced my chest but it punctured his, he died at the scene, the building had been condemned and we just wanted to get a feel of what we could do with the space. I had tried to dissuade him about it, but his eagerness and his beautiful excited smile was my undoing and his.
As he moved the bricks from there resting place he neglected to see that they where holding up a metal rod with a pointy end that was part of the ceiling, we walked on the second floor imagining the beautiful apartment that could build, the ceiling started to cave in, I took a few steps to take in the view of out future new place when I felt the heel of my favorite pair of shoes give in to the wooden rotting floor boards. I tripped and feel and it collapsed under me leaving me hanging from a beam, Dario ran to help me but the floor was too unsteady and he slipped too, the metal rod danced unbalanced and graced my dress ripping it and leaving a long bleeding scratch on the left side of my breast, that's when I saw the dark figure hovering over me, it's dark features intently focused on my face.
Dario lost his grip on the beam he was hanging from and fell to the floor impaneling him on the teetering metal.
I was speared, he wasn't I still continued with our dream the apartment I had lived for almost 25 years is where he died.
After he fell to his death, the dark figure suspended me for a few seconds and then I felt the cold against the skin of my wrists, the pain was so intense that I screamed out closing my eyes.
When I came to, I was sitting on the lower floor with the body of my Dario in my arms as he took his last breaths, the figure stood in the corner and watched as he made me promise to be open when the time came. I did, not knowing what I was doing, just crying and begging him not to leave me.
I walk over to the center of the room to the welcoming desk and lean over it, when I hear the tingling bell announcing a customer.
For being so patient and understanding I will post the next chapter in a few minutes! :)