I remember everything now. I remember how it felt. I walked across an empty, waste land. I felt the dry earth beneath my feet. I knew the pathway like the back of my hand, even when it was covered in ashes. There were coals, I recall; still warm from the night before. I walked upon the ruins of my destruction with hazy smoke surrounding me. Ashes fell from the sky like snow, but I took no notice of any of it. I only walked; staring in front of me without seeing.
I came back to the present; my hands that had been covering my face dropped to my side to reveal my tear tortured face. “Why did you show that to me?” I trembled as I looked up from my knees to the man standing above me. His face was full of pity. “Because you needed to know,” he answered bowing his head, “I’m sorry.” -Emma L.
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Hello! And Merry Christmas to you! I hope you enjoy this short story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Land Ho!
It was just after dawn when the young, exhausted sailer scrambled above deck. It was busy with activity and excited shouts from his sea mates. Sailers ran this way and that pulling down the sails and changing course as the cry went up: “Land ho!! Land ho!” A thrill of excitement and relief ran through the sailer as he ran to the side of the ship. It had been several months on board the Dreamer with many a storm, crashing waves and being blown off course, but now they had at last reached land. And there it was, the boy squinted in the morning light, a bit of black stretched out on the horizon. This was going to be a good day. -Emma L. Time Here I am standing in December again. I look around me once again, looking at all the faces about me. Most of them I recognize, others my recognition of them is faded; or I hardly remember them at all. How everyone’s changed since last year!
This short story is based off my experience at a friend's birthday party. Everything in it happened, though perhaps not in this particular order. I did dance the very last dance, which is just like me to wait until the very last possible moment to do something. The Party I remember there was something special about that evening. It was like a story, truly that night was most enchanting.
I sat on the grassy lawn my legs crossed and an unconscious smile on my face as I watched the people around me. They were all choosing partners, for there was to be dancing. The air was a perfect temperature and it smelled of cut grass and summer. “You should dance, Emma!” My best friend walked up to me, “come on, it’ll be fun,” she encouraged me as she always did. And for a second I considered it and then a sudden fear overtook me, I looked at all the people, I didn’t really know this dance, I was scared of messing up. The nervous knot grew in my stomach, but I smiled at her as if nothing was wrong. “I’m not sure,” I hesitated, “maybe later, I think I want to watch first,” “Alright,” she answered and then after a moment she turned to find a partner. I watched as everyone in a confused muddle finally made it in a neat line. Watching them my amusement returned and my uneasy thoughts were forgot. A moment later the music started and I watched the dancers move in and bowed and curtsied to each other. The music was so delightful you couldn’t help but feel cheerful. It flowed through the air so joyful and clear. It made me feel so alive I clapped my hands to the beat of the fiddles which were playing so skillfully. The evening sun was exotically orange, and shown behind the dancers, making them profiles dancing upon the short grass. I watched as the smiling men spun their partners who were laughing merrily. The evening sped past as dance after dance went by; music filled the night and everyone was happy. I watched as the sun began to set on the scene turning the dancers into dark silhouettes. It was so beautiful as the dancers moved with the music, spun and do-si-doed. I caught my breath as I gazed at the sunset behind the dancers, it is one I shall never forget: brilliant red and orange spread like paint across the sky. I watched the dark silhouettes of birds flying into the sunset and that night I felt as though I too could fly. I closed my eyes and imagined myself flying over treetops and oceans and watching this brilliant sunset on top of a mountain. I smiled again and opened my eyes. The music stopped and the dancers bowed to their partners. The dance was over. Suddenly I didn’t care what people thought, I felt so light and free, like I could do anything. I got up and decided to dance. After finding a partner, I lined up with the other dancers and a moment later the dance began. I pushed away my anxious thoughts and smiled, and as the dance went on my smile grew. True, I made a few mistakes, but that was ok. Even the stars danced that night I’m sure of it. Then as the last of the light was disappearing over the horizon the dance ended and as it grew darker still, we all said goodbyes and the dream slowly dissolved into the night, the music faded away and it seemed to all be a dream, but better, for I know was real. As I sat in the darkness going home I smiled up at the stars who smiled back, and the night was over. -Emma L. The Door Past the garden and through the wood To the old door in fields it stood No walls no ceiling no floor it owns It stood alone as white as bones I was there one evening fair The sun setting to its place somewhere I stood there wondering as I always did What lay behind the door so darkly hid -Emma L. Hey everyone!! As you can see, I changed my layout. I hope you like it!! Sorry it's been so long since my last post! This is my latest short story I've written, and hope you will all enjoy it. Please feel free to comment and tell me what you thought or if you have some pointers. I am very open to anything you have to say!! Enjoy! It is long and very white. The ceiling is painted with detailed art and pictures of historical figures lines the corridor. Not a sound is heard but the ticking of an old grandfather clock; it stands like a great shadow in the corner at the end of the grand hall. The only other thing in the room are two plants. They stand strong in their crystal pots beneath two windows. They look as if they are trying their very best to escape from the stale atmosphere of the hall. There are very few windows, but somehow the hall is full of light. You take this all in with a single glance as you stand there for a moment more. Now there is one more sound in this empty, white room; your hollow footsteps sounding down the corridor. You do not look right nor left but straight ahead as you make your way to the ivory set of doors at the end of the hallway. You are now standing in front of them but still you hesitate to open them. You reach out and place a hand on the smooth surface of one of the doors. Your fingers gently trace the delicate carvings. You begin to see they tell a a story. A story told to you long, long ago. Memories come flooding back. Some sweet, some bitter. Ah, now you refuse to recall more. Your shaking hands find the handle and you pull with all your might. The door swings soundlessly open. Hey everyone!! Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Here is a small story for you to read, I really hope you enjoy it! Oh, and please feel free to comment and tell me what you thought! I would love some pointers if you found any mistakes!
Bright flames crawled along the dry ground, hungrily eating up anything lying in it’s path and traveling as fast as lightning up the pine trees of the forest; sending their leaves and branches instantly into flames. I gave a quick glance behind me and gave a short gasp as the fire exploded with a loud pop. Sparks spurted upward toward the night sky. The fire was quickly making it’s way closer to my fleeing family at an alarming speed. I gripped tighter to my younger sister’s hand and tried to run faster as we flew for our lives. The mournful wails of my baby brother, whom my Mother held, echoed through my head. I could feel the heat of the flames against my back; it was so frightfully close! I coughed and choked on the smoke that swirled around us. It blinded me and stung my eyes making them stream. “Lord, God!” I cried out. “Please help us! Help us make it to the river in time.” I had a sudden feeling of comfort. And with a new surge of hope, I fought on. We finely stumbled out of the wood into an open, dry field, but didn’t pause. The merciless fire still pursued us. Just a little further! We’re almost there! My strength was weakening, but the thought of the river and safety kept me going. My sister suddenly tripped with a short, sickening scream of terror and I was filled with panic as I was yanked down with her. My world spun around me, and I felt as if the ground had disintegrated beneath me. “Livi, Ida!!” Father’s voice shouted somewhere within my spinning world. My heart came up to my throat, and I gave a confused scream of alarm. It all happened so fast, and yet it felt like forever before I was finely back on my feet, running as before. I looked down at Ida. Her eyes were wide with fright. “Livi,” she whimpered, her eyes filling with tears of horror as were mine. “I can’t do it……” I squeezed her hand encouragingly, and tried to smile, but it didn’t come. “Yes, yes you can,” I told her. “And you will. The Lord is with us.” The fear in her eyes dissipated slightly. The field was coming to an end and the safety of the river came closer. But so did the dread behind us. Hope flared within me at the sight of the river bed, and a few moments later we plunged into the icy waters. Mother went straight into Father’s arms and started sobbing uncontrollably. I said a silent prayer of thanks as Ida let go of my hand and wadded to Father also. But I turned back to look once more upon our beloved home that I had known my entire life now engulfed in flames that reached up to touch the starry sky. I would never again see it. I would never again run through the forest, feeling the soft summer breeze through my hair, and hearing the gentle, comforting sound of the trickling steam I loved so dearly. The wood I grew up in, my childhood, all gone. Tears trickled down my face, blurring the ruthless flames before me. “No,” I whispered squeezing my eyes shut hoping I would wake up to find this all a nightmare. But I knew deep down inside this night horror was no dream. The voices of my family seemed distant as I just stood trembling in the water staring. Staring as the fiery fire slowly destroyed our home. This is another paragraph I wrote. I based it off of an Irish song I really like. I put some of the lyrics in it, so just to let you know, some of the writing is from the song and is not my own. Also, I said in the paragraph 'an Irish blessing.' I really don't know if it is or not. I just thought it fit well with the storyline. Hope you enjoy it!!
I stood on a high cliff. A cliff that looked over the Irish sea. I stood staring across the endless waters; searching. Searching for a ship I knew would never return. But I searched anyway. Somewhere deep inside me told me that he may yet be alive, and this would be the day of his return. Day after day I watched and waited. It had been months since my brother’s departure. He had left on a quest to find knew lands. “There’s a dream that will not sleep, Liza,” he told me the day he left. His eyes gazing down at me with a plea to understand. “A burning hope that will not die. So I must go now with the winds, and leave you waiting on the tide.” I looked down at the ground, not wanting him to see the tears in my eyes. “I will return. I promise,” I looked back up and smiled slightly. “Then go,” I told him kindly. “and live your dream. One song, one star burning bright. Let it carry you through darkest night. ” “One song, one star burning bright. Let it carry me through darkest night.” My brother echoed and smiled back. An Irish blessing. He looked across the sea and on the ship that stood waiting for him as he finish it. “Time to fly, time to touch the sky, one bright star in the evening sky, it’s light leads me on me way.” My response was silence. He looked back at me with a sigh. “I’m going to miss you.” He said. “Do you have to go, Will?” I asked. “Yes, Liza. I feel my heart is drawn to the sea. It’s my destiny,” “But how do you know?!” “I just do,” he told me and took hold of my two hands, “Please understand." I nodded. “Come here,” he let go of my hands and held out his arms to me. I fell into them in a sisterly hug. “Goodbye my sister, goodbye,” “Goodbye, Will.” I whispered. The tears streamed down my face and I buried my face in his shoulder. “When the time has come to fly,” I said. “Listen and hear the song that I sing to you.” When the light began to fade, and the shadows fell across the sea, he left me. Rain came over the gray hills, and on the air a soft goodbye. I buried my face in my hands, and let the tears flow through them. Shaking with each sob as I remembered this painful memory. “Come home,” I whispered. “Why, oh why did you have to leave?” The wind gently stirred the grass, and blew my hair into the air. Then suddenly, somewhere in the breezy air, I heard a soft goodbye. Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I will be posting a short paragraph I wrote last winter. This is not my book that I am writing, just part of a short story. Hope you enjoy!
I pushed my horse into a fast gallop as the first raindrops splashed softly down on the dry grass of the field. I glanced up at the blackened sky, and pushed the horse even further; trying in vain to reach the other end of the long field before the storm hit. The rain soon started to pour on me, soaking me instantly. The wind blew my hair across my face, making it hard for me to see the way. Swords of lightning split through the sky, and a moment later thunder followed. I felt my horse flinch underneath me as the sky light up with more lightning. The thunder crashed above me louder than I've ever heard, and I fought desperately to keep my horse under control, but to no avail. He shot forward at his highest speed. I ducked down and held on to his neck tightly. Turning my head I looked behind me at the sky, to see a bolt of lightning break the angry clouds, and traveled halfway down to the sky. My eyes widened, and I felt my own fear rising within me. I turned my gaze back on our course to see that we were almost to the forest, at the far end of the field. The sky was now as dark as night, and the rain poured all the harder. I could just vaguely see the outcroppings of the large trees, as my horse sped toward them. It seemed like a moment later, when the horse practically flew into the forest. He ran a great distance in the wood, until he finally slowed to a steady canter. When he slowed even further, I let go, and slid down his back. The horse let out a quiet neigh, and turned around. He was much more calm now. I leaned against a tree, soaked, but thankful to be safe. |
EmmaA writer, lover of music, books, photography, and the one true God. Archives
December 2016
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