Our Ashes
Mayedatul Mutahharah
The winds kissed my cheek as I began to press my feet against the pebbles of this dusty road. But this wasn’t just any road. This was the road of memories and dreams. This road held my biggest fear and greatest desire.
The flowers began to sing as the weeds cursed me. The flowers sung truths as the weeds murmured lies. I dragged my feet up the narrow road, determined to find the journey I longed for. I rose to a haunt as I glared at the sun. It was mocking me. It was leaving my side after the many promises we made. Traitor. The inky black of the night started to intimidate the fruity colours of the day as I got back on track.
I began to walk. I began to jog. I began to run. The horizon was just a joke trying to slow me down. My arms stretched out in front of me as if to grab something. The need… my tears began to stain my rosy cheeks as my feet gave up on me. Maybe this was the end. Maybe I was never to see her again.
As I began to let my flow of hope decay, I heard a voice. The voice of the one I’ve been looking for.
Did my ears pick up on a truth or a lie?
I looked up, my eyes straining to see the furthest they could. Then I saw a figure. A silhouette of a woman. She was dancing with the stars and sang with the moon’s instrumental tunes. It was her…
I began to run, calling out her name. My mind outracing my feet. I couldn’t stop myself now – she had taken over me. It felt like hours until the moment I stood before her. She looked beautiful…words could not describe her. The red ring to her lips. The silver silks of her hair that shone brighter than moonlight. She was wearing rags but looked like a goddess.
I had questions but my lips had others. “Are you olive?” I blurted out as stupidity oozed from those words. A rising flush of embarrassment appearing on my cheeks.
As I tried to collect my thoughts, she giggled, taking my hands in her scarred ones. “Yes,” she replied. The soft touch to her voice filled me to the core.
We began to talk about our memories together. I didn’t realise how much time had passed until her warmth was vanishing from my fingertips. I glanced up at her and she nodded.
“It’s time for me to take my leave.”
She smiled at me before her remains were just mere ashes. The glowing dust escaped my grasp. I felt complete. At last, I would be able to rest in peace with the image of her smile engraved into my mind. I grinned up at the stars as the wind began to choke me.
“I guess it’s my turn now,” I let out a chuckle. “Love you.”
My eyes closed shut.