Elena wished she could be one of those girls who shunned the whole circus that was Valentine's Day, just like her girlfriends, giggling over guesses and making wagers and contests of who might receive the most suitors.
On the surface, she had been one with them, laughing, joking, and with each word hiding her heart more deeply inside.
How long had been the night! The night, wicked and cruel, had brought no sleep, no rest free from torment. And now this day! This dreaded day! It set her nerves afire and made her doubt her strength to survive it.
All the other girls went about, to the various social engagements that should have occupied Elena's mind as fully as theirs. The sudden, shocking illness that halted her participation was true enough, though doubtless brought on by her worries.
The minutes could hardly pass, weighted so, the ticking of the clock so slow time itself seemed caught in the muddled sludge of her worry-sick heart.
Elena's family had long since ceased to open the door to the sitting room, lest they cause her heart soar, then break, when she found them without what she so longed to see.
Each messenger, then, brought hope in his hands, hope with his steps up the street.
Each hope, though, brought a sudden paling of face, a gentle tap, as the card landed where she stood, her soft hands unable to bring more pain to her heart in holding the wrong declaration before her.
"Wrong, it is wrong, he does not mean it."
The first time she said it, it was barely a whisper on her breath. The repetition made it softer, less sure, her poor weary heart caught between hope and doubt.
When her girlfriends came to call, between a luncheon and a ball, they were shown the door immediately. Miss Elena was much too ill, you see, too ill to see them in all their cheer.
The day had already threatened to fade into blackness, taking with it Elena's hope, her heart, when came a last and lonely messenger to the door. Elena's heart caught quickly, the desire to soar outweighing the fear that the next time it shattered might also be the last.
On the surface, she had been one with them, laughing, joking, and with each word hiding her heart more deeply inside.
How long had been the night! The night, wicked and cruel, had brought no sleep, no rest free from torment. And now this day! This dreaded day! It set her nerves afire and made her doubt her strength to survive it.
All the other girls went about, to the various social engagements that should have occupied Elena's mind as fully as theirs. The sudden, shocking illness that halted her participation was true enough, though doubtless brought on by her worries.
The minutes could hardly pass, weighted so, the ticking of the clock so slow time itself seemed caught in the muddled sludge of her worry-sick heart.
Elena's family had long since ceased to open the door to the sitting room, lest they cause her heart soar, then break, when she found them without what she so longed to see.
Each messenger, then, brought hope in his hands, hope with his steps up the street.
Each hope, though, brought a sudden paling of face, a gentle tap, as the card landed where she stood, her soft hands unable to bring more pain to her heart in holding the wrong declaration before her.
"Wrong, it is wrong, he does not mean it."
The first time she said it, it was barely a whisper on her breath. The repetition made it softer, less sure, her poor weary heart caught between hope and doubt.
When her girlfriends came to call, between a luncheon and a ball, they were shown the door immediately. Miss Elena was much too ill, you see, too ill to see them in all their cheer.
The day had already threatened to fade into blackness, taking with it Elena's hope, her heart, when came a last and lonely messenger to the door. Elena's heart caught quickly, the desire to soar outweighing the fear that the next time it shattered might also be the last.
Comments
great write. hugz cj
I really like your work.
Beautiful short story, keep up the great work!
"the day had already threatened to fade into blackness."
cool :)
enjoyed this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
great piece
:)
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW and BRAVO!!! :-) Wow! Such talent. This work is brilliant. :-)
Happy Valentine's day. What a perfect valentine story...SIGH. :-)))
Lovely.
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