LJIdol Week 11 - Returned (prompted by The Blue Hour)

[garnigal]

They picnicked at the shore, with the sound of waves as a soothing background. The sun beat warm on uncovered heads and strong bodies, and they stuffed themselves to sleepiness, and lay about, chatting aimlessly.

She sat in the center of it all, the head of the family. The sons and daughters, granddaughters and grandsons she’d given up so much for surrounded her with love and compassion. Each took a moment to visit with her personally, though her eldest daughter never left her side.

It was the youngest granddaughter, a wee girl of 6, who asked the questions, for she knew no better.

“Grandmother?”

“Yes, my darling?”

“Mama says you’re going away and you’ll not come back. Where are you going? Why shan’t you come back? Won’t you miss us?”

All voices stopped. Even the waves seemed to hesitate on their endless path.

Grandmother simply laughed. “Oh sweetness, this world is not made for old women. The work needed to keep us fed and clad is beyond our frail bodies, and even the air seems to press us down, so our backs become crooked. Better to leave this place for you young ones, to go to a world that is much kinder to their aged.”

Satisfied, the girl ran off to play with her cousins. Eldest daughter sighed and wiped away a few tears. “Never fear, my girl. I’ll be alright, and so will you.”

As the sun faded and dusk settled into eerie blue, the family had no more words left, and trailed away silently, with one last squeeze of hand for their beloved mother and grandmother.

Only the youngest ran off singing.

Finally, the eldest daughter rose from her hillock. “Shall I help you, Mother?”

“No need my girl. Be with your family, with music and stories by the light of the fire. Make some shortbread, from the recipe I taught you. I shall take care of myself.”

And somehow, the old woman rose gracefully, and stepped towards the waves. They seemed to sense her coming, reaching ever higher towards her, until they lapped at her ankles.

She watched the blue light for a long time, watched it fade to blackness, watched as the stars and moon lit the sea with silver. At that, she buried her arms in the warm fur she’d carried with her, buried her face in the silken pelt.

She changed.

She became silken, warm. She became light and fluid. She remembered her youth in this water, and with one last human laugh, she dove into a wave.

She jumped and spun in the air, taking one last look before she disappeared beneath the waves. Her eldest daughter waved, smiling and crying.

Waiting for her turn to swim away.

Comments

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Wow. This was beautifully written.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. It was a touch self-indulgent; I used all the adjectives! None for anyone else!

[jerusha]

This was, quite simply, absolutely gorgeous.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

I was in the mood for something effulgent :)

So many adjectives.

[shadowwolf13]

<3

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[snogged.livejournal.com]

This was really lovely.

I applaud you for coming up with a gentle, kind way to explain death to children.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Interesting take. I think it would work well that way, even though I was thinking of selkies.

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

I loved this. It was so well told, with a great ending. It ended happier than I expected, with the selkie transformation. Great job!

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I do a lot of my mental writing work when I drive - conveniently during the blue hour. :) And selkies are very cool.

[messygorgeous.livejournal.com]

I love it!!

I was expecting realism, that this was one of those right to death situations where someone has a grand going away party before taking a lethal dose of something.

Instead SELKIES!

Really beautifully done.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm glad the twist worked for you.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

The sea really is another world-- a much less sinister OR abstract idea than I had imagined.

Returning to being a seal for the elderly years of life seems like a rather nice end. :)

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that too!

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thanks for a lovely end. I really liked what you did here :)

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much

[flipflop-diva.livejournal.com]

If only all ends came like this. This was beautifully written! So sad, yet also really sweet.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it worked for you. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.

[murielle.livejournal.com]

Wise and wonderful! Compassionate and colorful! Kind and caring. I love the gentle magic in this story. If only....

Very well done.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you.