Brigit's Flame: January, Week 3
Ack, this is kinda last minute.
Anywho the prompt is Guns and Roses (this month's theme is killing me!)
Title: Shades of Life, Love, and Betrayal
Imagine a place without colours, which was what the world in our story is like. In this world was a town called Despidia that was especially colourless. No one laughed, cried, let alone loved. There was no music, or dancing, or anything that could remotely considered as fun. Everyone was like that, except for Celeste.
Celeste lived at the outskirts of the town, near the forest. She enjoyed the wilderness for she was free there. The townsmen, they judged her and policed her every movement. She wasn’t like them and they didn’t like it.
Celeste had many emotions and she showed it. She was creative and would often spend her time creating ornaments from the flowers she picked. She did whatever she wanted in a world where you were only allowed to act to survive and for the good of the community.
Most importantly, Celeste could see colour. Not always, only in flashes and even then it was only one or two colours as a time but she could see it. Sometimes when she felt especially excited the light grey sky would be filled with a tranquil blue. One time she was feeling angry she saw that some of her flowers were a bright purple.
Celeste was unique…except for the only other person who ever understood her, Darissa.
But she was alone now.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Celeste strolled through the forest. She always goes to this one big tree where she sits and watched her surroundings. The sun hits through the leaves just right which makes everything shimmers in a warm glow. A blissful wind occasionally pass by, making everything dance with the breeze.
She did this everyday, but not today was different.
She walked to the tree and there was someone. The person was crouched down, staring at the tree, almost obsessively.
“Hello?” She said. The person turned around and she gasped silently.
He was colourful, in colours she has never even seen before. She approached him slowly, eyes lit up in excitement. She reached out her hands to him which caused him to stagger backwards.
“Who are you?” She asked.
“I’m John.” He replied.
“What are you doing here? No one ever comes out here.”
“I got a lost. My family and I just moved here.”
“How fascinating!” She smiled.
John noticed the unfamiliar action with her lips. “You are odd.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“What is your name?”
“Celeste.”
“Even your name is odd.”
“It means something so great that it must be something not from this world.”
“You are clearly of this world. You don’t make any sense.”
Celeste giggled, “Just pay no attention to me then.” She lied down next to the tree staring at the sky. John noticed the absolute peace on her face.
“What do you do here?” He inquired.
“I come here and just get immerse in my environment. This place is fascinating.”
“What is so fascinating about trees? They are just building materials.”
“Oh no.” Celeste objected, “They’re life. It’s surrounding by it, not just the tree itself but all these different life forms dependent on the tree.”
John gave her the usual blank expression that other people have but he stayed. He sat own and listened to her talk about the forest, her thoughts, and her general ponderings. Unlike the other people, Celeste felt that John understood what she was saying.
Later that day she saw the sun, for the first time. It was even brighter and everything was golden.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The next day she was surprised to see John again; he was lying on the grass like she did the day before.
“Hello again.” Celeste greeted. “What brings you here?”
John opened his eyes and sat up. “I was waiting for you.” He confessed.
“I’m flattered.” she grinned. Her face lit up when she smiled John noticed and for the first time he saw something besides grey. “I like having someone to talk to.”
John felt strange but it wasn’t unpleasant. “I…like it too…?” His lips slowly curled up into what could be considered a smile.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
John visited her frequently. They talked a lot, about the forest, the town, their lives. Celeste showed him what she knew, nothing considered practical to the townsmen but John was fascinated by anything Celeste did.
They stood in front of a vast field of pure white. Flowers filled the whole area. “This place is gorgeous.” John gaped.
Celeste stroked the delicate petals. “They’re white roses. They’re my favourite. The way the petals bloom and spiral, really pretty. Darissa said that the white represents innocence and hope.”
“Darissa…you mentioned her a lot. Who is she?”
“She was the only person who every understood me. My parents didn’t want me because I did not fit in and the other townsmen gave them grief. I was just by myself. As you could guess the others weren’t very fond of me either…they were frightening.” She plucked the petals off the flower and twisted the stem. “I just ran one day, didn’t matter where, just away from the town when I found this cabin. It was where Darissa lived.” She smiled at the memory, “She took me in right away and she was like an older sister to me. She’s the one who named me Celeste…it used to be Sally.”
“Then where is she now?” John inquired.
Her smile waned. “She’s gone. One day she said she had to go to town to buy some things but she never returned.” She twirled her fingers. “But she must have her reason, that’s what I tell myself anyways. She wouldn’t just leave me here all alone...right?” She clutched her hands together tightly.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t.” John reassured her. He placed his hand on hers and grabbed it firmly. “And you are definitely not alone.”
Celeste’s grim expression changed into a happier one, “Thank you.”
John picked a few flowers and in a few minutes fashioned a wreath together. He placed it on her head, “These suit you.” Celeste felt overwhelmed and could only express her joy by wrapping her arms around his body. John was shocked by her action but he welcomed it and returned the gesture.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
They never went into the town together; they couldn’t even imagine how others will react to their relationship. Celeste will usually escort John till they reach to the main road that leads to the gates.
They walked slowly and Celeste stopped, “Well, see you soon?” She said.
“Tomorrow.” John confirmed. Celeste looked gleeful.
“John!” A middle aged woman stormed towards them. She looked furious. “So what the neighbours said was true! You have been associating with her.” She looked at Celeste with disgust. “Everyone is talking about us now. Is that what you want John?!” Her voice was stern and every word she said chilled Celeste.
“No mother but-”
“We cannot afford to be talked about. You are cannot venture outside of town again.” She took John by the hand and forcibly dragged him back.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
It has been several weeks, Celeste thought, since she last seen John. She stared at the night sky; there was not a single star to be seen, just eternal emptiness. She sighed and closed her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She could hear the very familiar voice. She opened her eyes immediately and was greeted by John. She touched his face, he was real. “Something on my face?”
Celeste hugged him. “How did you get here?”
“I sneaked out while my parents were sleeping.”
“That’s it?”
“It’s easy when there’s sleeping medicine. I got a job at the apothecary and…borrowed some.”
“You did that for me?”
“Of course…I missed you.” That comment made Celeste happy.
“I love you.” Celeste blurted out in a moment of joy. She covered her mouth with her hands right after.
John was silent and Celeste closed her eyes in embarrassment. She was prepared for John to possibly run off.
“I love you too.”
Their lips touched and both of them saw the world, in all its colours for the first time.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
“Why did you move here?” Celeste asked one day.
John sighed, “My aunt, she lived with us before we moved here. She was involved with a man before they were married. They weren’t very well liked.”
“Where’s your aunt now, she’s not with you.”
“She’s gone now, so is that man she was with. All the townsmen said they eloped. Because of her we all got marked as miscreants and we were basically forced to move.”
“You ever wonder what she’s doing now?”
“All the time, but some days I wonder if she really did elope.”
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
A young girl wandered around the town. Gloom and depression surrounds her. She looked up and all she could see was gray, gray, gray.
She walked through the town square, passing townsmen, each staring and whispering about her as she passed by. There was a small crowd behind her, possibly growing larger.
“Well, who do we have here?” one of them said.
The young girl looked up, “S-sally.” The girl squeaked.
“Oh yes, the girl that even her parents didn’t want.” The person pinched her cheeks, hard. “Why did your parents leave? Were you misbehaving?” he teased. “Remember, never go out of line or people won’t be happy.”
“Y-yes sir.”
“Don’t ever cause a fuss, we wouldn’t want you to influence the other children or there will be consequences.” It was a threat.
The little girl bit her lips, trying not to cry. She nodded and ran away and never looked back.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Something was wrong with John today. His colour was dull and he just spent the whole time staring at the ground. “Are you alright?” Celeste asked. He gave a vague noise in response. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, “Tell me what’s wrong.”
John slowly turned his head towards Celeste. His eyes were misty, slightly red. “Celeste…”
“Yea?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. John, what’s going on? Did your parents find out about us?” John seemed to have tense up at that questino
“I have to go now.” John stood up.
“John…”
“I think I know what happened to my aunt and Darissa now, she didn’t abandon you,” He kissed her on the forehead and walked away.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The day was beautiful, ironically. The sun was shining brightly; Celeste sat at the rose field. She thought of John, he had not visited her since the odd meeting last time.
“Celeste…” It was John.
She smiled, “Where have you been?”
He didn’t say anything, he didn’t even look at her. He grabbed Celeste and pulled her into him. “Sorry.” She heard him whisper.
There was a bang and Celeste felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She looked down and there was a patch of dark red. Blood. She dropped to the ground and stared into John’s eyes. “Why?” She asked. She never got an answer. She dropped to the ground; breathe shortening, eyelids getting heavy. She took a last look at her beloved roses. White roses, a symbol of innocence and hope, now they’re stained with dark crimson, anger and sin. Celeste closed her eyes, forever. Perhaps her name was right, she just does not belong to this world.
Anywho the prompt is Guns and Roses (this month's theme is killing me!)
Title: Shades of Life, Love, and Betrayal
Imagine a place without colours, which was what the world in our story is like. In this world was a town called Despidia that was especially colourless. No one laughed, cried, let alone loved. There was no music, or dancing, or anything that could remotely considered as fun. Everyone was like that, except for Celeste.
Celeste lived at the outskirts of the town, near the forest. She enjoyed the wilderness for she was free there. The townsmen, they judged her and policed her every movement. She wasn’t like them and they didn’t like it.
Celeste had many emotions and she showed it. She was creative and would often spend her time creating ornaments from the flowers she picked. She did whatever she wanted in a world where you were only allowed to act to survive and for the good of the community.
Most importantly, Celeste could see colour. Not always, only in flashes and even then it was only one or two colours as a time but she could see it. Sometimes when she felt especially excited the light grey sky would be filled with a tranquil blue. One time she was feeling angry she saw that some of her flowers were a bright purple.
Celeste was unique…except for the only other person who ever understood her, Darissa.
But she was alone now.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Celeste strolled through the forest. She always goes to this one big tree where she sits and watched her surroundings. The sun hits through the leaves just right which makes everything shimmers in a warm glow. A blissful wind occasionally pass by, making everything dance with the breeze.
She did this everyday, but not today was different.
She walked to the tree and there was someone. The person was crouched down, staring at the tree, almost obsessively.
“Hello?” She said. The person turned around and she gasped silently.
He was colourful, in colours she has never even seen before. She approached him slowly, eyes lit up in excitement. She reached out her hands to him which caused him to stagger backwards.
“Who are you?” She asked.
“I’m John.” He replied.
“What are you doing here? No one ever comes out here.”
“I got a lost. My family and I just moved here.”
“How fascinating!” She smiled.
John noticed the unfamiliar action with her lips. “You are odd.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“What is your name?”
“Celeste.”
“Even your name is odd.”
“It means something so great that it must be something not from this world.”
“You are clearly of this world. You don’t make any sense.”
Celeste giggled, “Just pay no attention to me then.” She lied down next to the tree staring at the sky. John noticed the absolute peace on her face.
“What do you do here?” He inquired.
“I come here and just get immerse in my environment. This place is fascinating.”
“What is so fascinating about trees? They are just building materials.”
“Oh no.” Celeste objected, “They’re life. It’s surrounding by it, not just the tree itself but all these different life forms dependent on the tree.”
John gave her the usual blank expression that other people have but he stayed. He sat own and listened to her talk about the forest, her thoughts, and her general ponderings. Unlike the other people, Celeste felt that John understood what she was saying.
Later that day she saw the sun, for the first time. It was even brighter and everything was golden.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The next day she was surprised to see John again; he was lying on the grass like she did the day before.
“Hello again.” Celeste greeted. “What brings you here?”
John opened his eyes and sat up. “I was waiting for you.” He confessed.
“I’m flattered.” she grinned. Her face lit up when she smiled John noticed and for the first time he saw something besides grey. “I like having someone to talk to.”
John felt strange but it wasn’t unpleasant. “I…like it too…?” His lips slowly curled up into what could be considered a smile.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
John visited her frequently. They talked a lot, about the forest, the town, their lives. Celeste showed him what she knew, nothing considered practical to the townsmen but John was fascinated by anything Celeste did.
They stood in front of a vast field of pure white. Flowers filled the whole area. “This place is gorgeous.” John gaped.
Celeste stroked the delicate petals. “They’re white roses. They’re my favourite. The way the petals bloom and spiral, really pretty. Darissa said that the white represents innocence and hope.”
“Darissa…you mentioned her a lot. Who is she?”
“She was the only person who every understood me. My parents didn’t want me because I did not fit in and the other townsmen gave them grief. I was just by myself. As you could guess the others weren’t very fond of me either…they were frightening.” She plucked the petals off the flower and twisted the stem. “I just ran one day, didn’t matter where, just away from the town when I found this cabin. It was where Darissa lived.” She smiled at the memory, “She took me in right away and she was like an older sister to me. She’s the one who named me Celeste…it used to be Sally.”
“Then where is she now?” John inquired.
Her smile waned. “She’s gone. One day she said she had to go to town to buy some things but she never returned.” She twirled her fingers. “But she must have her reason, that’s what I tell myself anyways. She wouldn’t just leave me here all alone...right?” She clutched her hands together tightly.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t.” John reassured her. He placed his hand on hers and grabbed it firmly. “And you are definitely not alone.”
Celeste’s grim expression changed into a happier one, “Thank you.”
John picked a few flowers and in a few minutes fashioned a wreath together. He placed it on her head, “These suit you.” Celeste felt overwhelmed and could only express her joy by wrapping her arms around his body. John was shocked by her action but he welcomed it and returned the gesture.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
They never went into the town together; they couldn’t even imagine how others will react to their relationship. Celeste will usually escort John till they reach to the main road that leads to the gates.
They walked slowly and Celeste stopped, “Well, see you soon?” She said.
“Tomorrow.” John confirmed. Celeste looked gleeful.
“John!” A middle aged woman stormed towards them. She looked furious. “So what the neighbours said was true! You have been associating with her.” She looked at Celeste with disgust. “Everyone is talking about us now. Is that what you want John?!” Her voice was stern and every word she said chilled Celeste.
“No mother but-”
“We cannot afford to be talked about. You are cannot venture outside of town again.” She took John by the hand and forcibly dragged him back.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
It has been several weeks, Celeste thought, since she last seen John. She stared at the night sky; there was not a single star to be seen, just eternal emptiness. She sighed and closed her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She could hear the very familiar voice. She opened her eyes immediately and was greeted by John. She touched his face, he was real. “Something on my face?”
Celeste hugged him. “How did you get here?”
“I sneaked out while my parents were sleeping.”
“That’s it?”
“It’s easy when there’s sleeping medicine. I got a job at the apothecary and…borrowed some.”
“You did that for me?”
“Of course…I missed you.” That comment made Celeste happy.
“I love you.” Celeste blurted out in a moment of joy. She covered her mouth with her hands right after.
John was silent and Celeste closed her eyes in embarrassment. She was prepared for John to possibly run off.
“I love you too.”
Their lips touched and both of them saw the world, in all its colours for the first time.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
“Why did you move here?” Celeste asked one day.
John sighed, “My aunt, she lived with us before we moved here. She was involved with a man before they were married. They weren’t very well liked.”
“Where’s your aunt now, she’s not with you.”
“She’s gone now, so is that man she was with. All the townsmen said they eloped. Because of her we all got marked as miscreants and we were basically forced to move.”
“You ever wonder what she’s doing now?”
“All the time, but some days I wonder if she really did elope.”
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
A young girl wandered around the town. Gloom and depression surrounds her. She looked up and all she could see was gray, gray, gray.
She walked through the town square, passing townsmen, each staring and whispering about her as she passed by. There was a small crowd behind her, possibly growing larger.
“Well, who do we have here?” one of them said.
The young girl looked up, “S-sally.” The girl squeaked.
“Oh yes, the girl that even her parents didn’t want.” The person pinched her cheeks, hard. “Why did your parents leave? Were you misbehaving?” he teased. “Remember, never go out of line or people won’t be happy.”
“Y-yes sir.”
“Don’t ever cause a fuss, we wouldn’t want you to influence the other children or there will be consequences.” It was a threat.
The little girl bit her lips, trying not to cry. She nodded and ran away and never looked back.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Something was wrong with John today. His colour was dull and he just spent the whole time staring at the ground. “Are you alright?” Celeste asked. He gave a vague noise in response. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, “Tell me what’s wrong.”
John slowly turned his head towards Celeste. His eyes were misty, slightly red. “Celeste…”
“Yea?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. John, what’s going on? Did your parents find out about us?” John seemed to have tense up at that questino
“I have to go now.” John stood up.
“John…”
“I think I know what happened to my aunt and Darissa now, she didn’t abandon you,” He kissed her on the forehead and walked away.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The day was beautiful, ironically. The sun was shining brightly; Celeste sat at the rose field. She thought of John, he had not visited her since the odd meeting last time.
“Celeste…” It was John.
She smiled, “Where have you been?”
He didn’t say anything, he didn’t even look at her. He grabbed Celeste and pulled her into him. “Sorry.” She heard him whisper.
There was a bang and Celeste felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She looked down and there was a patch of dark red. Blood. She dropped to the ground and stared into John’s eyes. “Why?” She asked. She never got an answer. She dropped to the ground; breathe shortening, eyelids getting heavy. She took a last look at her beloved roses. White roses, a symbol of innocence and hope, now they’re stained with dark crimson, anger and sin. Celeste closed her eyes, forever. Perhaps her name was right, she just does not belong to this world.