Hello everyone! This Monday we will be featuring the short story by Retroscenery that got her second place in our competetion! Enjoy! -- Short Story By: Retroscenery
I stared intensely at my reflection, which was as shallow and vapid as the basket of water from which it appeared. Surrounding the bucket was a stone wall, built from an abundance of small, rounded copper stones. It was cemented centuries ago, constructed with care from those who proceeded to give to the community and contribute to what it's become today. The basket holding the pool of water was large, carefully and intricately woven by the women of the past. It was wethered and unraveling, worn from years of usage and handling. A modern day steel bucket would do the community well but is considered unwarranted as the woven straw basket is sacred; a token of hard work within the community. I held out my hands, which were sandwiched between the coin, and prepared myself to make a wish.
"Megan, what the fuck are you doing? We don't have the time for this shit!'
Molly glanced at me with scornful eyes, hands on her hips. Her expression was poignant, almost arrogant, suggesting her higher ranking in comparison to me. I was always lagging behind, easily distracted and a hinderance to both our family and the community and she had no trouble letting me know, whether through verbal taunting and threatening or a glance that said it all. I stared at my feet, refusing to answer. Silence. Molly tapped her right foot, signalizing her impatience and then threw up her hands. "Oh, I give up. Come on!" She yanked my wrists. dragging me across the ground to regain my attention.
Losing balance, I fell and hit my head against the wall. On the inside I grimaced, grieving the pain. On the outside I had nothing to show for it. Holding onto the wall for support, I regained my balance and ran to catch up with Molly who was already ahead of me. Figures she wouldn't wait for me. Following her lead, we walked in silence and I was glad for it. I didn't feel like talking. I hadn't for quite some time now. It seemed like I had nothing to say since Fable left.
Chameleon sisters. That's what we were. Swirling in radiant hues of red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, green. What one felt the other immensely copied, mimicking her as if she were her sister's puppet, controlled and manuvered to blend into her sister's emotions and feelings at any given time. We were woven into each other, programmed to feel the same as each other, We were whole, we were one, feeling the bond that only sisters could share. Chameleon sisters.
I was sure that I was feeling what Fable was feeling.
Felicity was sitting at the kitchen table upon our arrival, hunched over and forlorn, eyes beckoning with disappointment. Molly and I entered the kitchen without a word. Pulling out a chair, we both sat at the table and waited. Finally Felicity acknowledged us and said "I... I haven't heard from her since." The news was unsettling but expected. More silence. It seemed as though my days were marked by silence. Molly gritted her teeth and stared at the floor. "It was her fault."
"Molly, don't start, please. It wasn't her fault, and even if it was, you know Megan-" Felicity was cut off by Molly's piercing screams. "Megan this, Megan that. Can we just STOP? Can we just shut the fuck up about Megan for once? The world doesn't revolve around her. Maybe it did in the past but it sure the fuck doesn't anymore. Fable's gone. Fable isn't here anymore and she needs to accept that like the rest of us".
"But you know how much Fable means to Megan." "What about what Fable means to us? Fable is our sister, not just Megan's. And Fable fucked up. She burdened out family. I'm sick and tired of this kind of shit, teeter tottering my emotions to avoid rocking the boat, to keep some stability between all of us. I won't pander to people's emotions any longer. Fable acted immaturely. She's selfish. She doesn't give two shits about us, about the community. It's all about her, her feelings, her desires, her personal goals.
"That's not how it works. We need to help each other out in order to thrive. You don't accomplish anything by yourself. You need someone to back you up. This community is too large There's too many things to do in order to keep it running. Fable hindered all of us and unfortunately was too stubborn to realize that. I love Fable, I really do, but that doesn't change the fact that she had what was coming to her. Fable deserved it and you guys know it."
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