No. 10

Elyo Suez (Part 1)

I dreamt that she wasn't moving. She was laid perfectly still. Frozen. Without closer inspection you'd swear hands-down she'd passed away, so absolute her stillness. For a second I almost made that mistake myself. But against all odds in the world of reality she lived; in a state akin to the corpse she should be. All round us the black horror of winters midnight swept snow through the trees and despite the thick clouds swelled above us the moon still shone through with an eerie radiance. The wood was silent. Even the wind made no mention of its presence. It occurred to me upon noticing the winds silence that I'd heard no sound at all since I could recall my being here. All I remembered in that infinite dark was her laying there. She looked like she'd seen it all come crashing down around her. She wore an expression of quiet rest and well hidden loneliness, which wasn't immediately obvious until those eyes opened. Those eyes. They told the world of wasted compassion and broken bonds. They called out to make her hearts wounds known to all, and in the ignorance of those around her it seemed no one heard them clear enough. More then anything she seemed peaceful just laid there amongst the cold and dirt. Which was incredible when you consider the rags of clothing she wore like she'd been in a fight with some wild animal.
I began to wonder what reasons she could have to be here. She was a work of wonder, that much I was sure of. But this environment I'd grown used to was too horrendous for her current dress, and if she should continue musing in this state she'd surely die. I made my way towards her through the snow making careful my steps so as not to disturb her and knelt down for closer inspection. Not once did she make a move apart from her chest rising and falling from breath.
It wasn't until being next to her that I realised how beautiful she was. And for that moment however long it was I too remained perfectly still in awe. Although this was the first time I'd laid eyes on her she was oddly familiar; a person of immediate bond in a world of severed ties. Being as quiet as possible I took my overcoat and laid it gently over her trying not to break her concentration.
But with the touch of my coats material those comatose eyes glared straight in to mine. Her stare frightened me more then the countless nightmares my mind has given me. In those darkened eyes you could see the injuries causing the pain she suffered. Yet as horrific as it must have looked to most any other person I saw her earnest warmth and its refusal to drown in that infinite unknowing. It was that warmth through the black that drew my heart in to her abyss. And I fell for her.
It appeared she'd not been expecting anyone to stumble upon her the way she clung to my coat, wrapping as much of her body in it as possible. After a few seconds adjusting herself until comfy she smiled in genuine politeness at the gesture. I must admit I was surprised by this, as over the years I'd come to expect very little in the way of kindness returned. For a time we continued gazing at each other. A number of new questions began occurring and entangling themselves in my mind, like why was she here, how did she come to be here and how I'd not encountered her before. These and many others were pushed away eventually by one question I wish now my heart had never longed to ask... 'Can I stay next to you?'
However she was the only one who spoke within my dream and it was this memory that aroused me from my slumber. In a voice soft and well-spoken but with obvious effect from the cold she simply said 'Thank you'.
Thank you. At the time I remember thinking it should be me thanking her. She was warmth to my heart. Seems funny now considering how, like her easy smile, my heart broke.