Post by geminigorgon on Jan 14, 2013 2:04:56 GMT -5
It wasn't the first time he had considered leaving the city. Hell, it wasn't the first time he had considered leaving the country. He was tired of this place and its never-ending war. The gangs, the conspiracy, the murder... the loneliness. He liked to be alone, but if this city had not claimed the life of the only woman he had ever – would ever love... he would like to be alone far less. This city had changed him. This city had stolen his light.
David stood on the end of a long pier lined with the yachts of the insanely rich. Seabirds sang their raucous cries from far above his head and dove into the still waters of the harbour only to resurface with mouthfuls of brine-soaked fish and salty water. The quiet lapping of surf on the wooden supports of the dock beat a calming rhythm like the rocking of a cradle, lulling his thoughts and soothing the ice in his soul. This was one of the few things he did on a regular basis. A constant in his static life of running around from place to place, chasing stories. Every day was the same. Every day was full of new stories to record and write. But once a week, every Sunday, he visited the harbour.
He twirled the stem of the single white rose in his fingers, passively noting the sting of the thorns as they pricked the pads of each digit. His blood marked the green stem, smearing and staining but not falling away. Mark the stem, but neither leaf nor petal – maybe it was a subconscious desire to leave the flower unsullied and as pure as she had been, that wonderful, beautiful woman.
Not all the roses he bought had thorns. Usually the florist trimmed them off. But this time they had been left to prick and sting, perhaps an accident, perhaps not. He was disinclined to believe in fate, in either case.
With a quick yet gentle toss, he consigned the rose to the waves. It floated there like the moon in the night sky, pristine, creamy white against the blue. He stood and watched it for a while, thinking of her and the good times they shared. With a quiet sigh that was more of a heavy breath, he looked out to the horizon.
”Ashes to ashes,” he muttered. ”Dust to dust. You're still on my mind, girl.”
__________
-- C O M P L E T E --
Notes: Pardon the length, dahlings, or lack thereof. I just wanted to get /something/ written and posted so... here it is. ^^;;