“Murder” is Easy, Freedom is Challenging
The next part of and about “Destiny”…
Destiny — Stage Zero and A Half
He heard the welcoming bell ring… somebody entered the store. But, he wasn’t inclined to greet. He was glued to his chair, highlighting a book.
One special book. The one he wouldn’t touch had it not been for her.
It was some years ago. More than a decade for sure. He was young.. way too young. Living a dream to be famous. Fantasy of music and money. Blended with passion and creation. Life was a garden full of roses. Disregarded the thorns, focused on the mere beauty.
Then… she came to sight. Fresh, vigorous, with towering pride so tall, along with obvious meek and hidden desires. The kind he wouldn’t dare to touch without permission. The kind he would be willing to wait for the permission.
The memory vividly flashed back through the many highlights. Her warm response, walked lightly towards him, took his hands, and captured his eyes softly and boldly.
The first night… she didn’t want an introduction, she said. She wanted connection. It fitted with her name better, she laughed. Karma!
“For me to exist, I need connection. No need for an introduction. It’s boring, tedious, and useless!”
He was puzzled and nervous, yet laughed and received. Karma, Carefree. Together, they would make a complete sense. That was his thought.
The first daytime together wasn’t about walking in the park or sitting together cuddling.
She was up in the morning and woke him up gently with a light flick on his nose….
“ The library will open soon! Let me show you some places you and I will go together!”
He slowly awoke, saying, “Ah… morning again!” Promptly sat down on the bed with a thought, “Who? Go where?… Together??”
He had no choice. Well… she made him feel he didn’t deserve one! She held his hands tightly as if he was a toddler.
Sat down together, side by side, in the library, a thick, gigantic book in front of them.
Images of glorious, majestic, old, rustic places full of books… thousands of books!! And she grabbed his left hand, put it on each page, moved each of his fingers across the image, closed her eyes, and smiled….
No words….
The feeling of being loved, potent, essential… never did he feel like this before!
He sighed with eyes closed. Even now, years later, he could still feel it. It was too good to be let go! It was too daunting to be kept!
He opened his eyes, back to the memory… the last afternoon he spent with her….
“It was great! I’ll go back to my hometown tonight. I’ll miss you!” he said while caressing her right cheek, playing with the mole under her lips.
She didn’t say anything. She grabbed both of his hands, put them on her chest, and closed her eyes.
An odd feeling of not liking this carefree feeling anymore….
A wanting to stay still, yet a hesitation of not living up to his name.
Destiny — Stage Two Continued
“Hi, I am sorry to bother you. Do you work here?”
She felt the need to ask the question because he didn’t bother to look up. Honestly, she thought it was a bit rude of him.
“Yeah… you can say I work here. I am the owner. How can I help you?”
“Ah… I saw a book on your window display… “Awakening,” I think. Where can I find it?
He nodded, got up, and walked to aisle four. Stopped at the right side, grabbed a book, and gave it to her.
“Thank you. Would you tell me what the book is about?”
“Look up! Read the aisle’s name! Maybe you can guess what the book is about.”
She tried hard to smile, even though she wasn’t fond of his reaction.
She looked up, and the aisle said, “Rebellious.” She stared at the word for a good ten seconds. Tried to process what it was about.
He was back in his chair, and she saw him continue highlighting a book.
She hesitated, but her curiosity escalated high.
She really wanted to read the book!
“Hmm… I am sorry to bother you again. But… I want to buy this book.”
He looked at her and said, “Not a bother at all! The price is at the back of the book. I can’t remember it.”
“ Also, I don’t think I have enough money to pay. I can work for you or help you around the bookstore. All I have is $2.”
He didn’t usually entertain this kind of stuff. But something about this girl… her aura reminded him of someone.
“Okay. I need you to do some research for me. Do you know how to do it?”
“I am not sure. But I’ll learn. I want to learn anything and everything as long as I don’t have to work at the grocery store for the rest of my life.”
He was taken aback by her answer. He wasn’t sure what she meant, but he wasn’t interested in prying.
“Come tomorrow at 6:00 in the evening. I’ll teach you. You can have the book after the research is done.”
“I’ll see you at 6:00 tomorrow!” She said with great enthusiasm and skipped her way out of the store.
She was so happy.
A promise she made after she read a quote finally looks promising…
“ Don’t blame a clown for acting like a clown. Ask yourself why you keep going to the circus.” ( Dan Nielsen)
Her mother lived her truth…
And that’s okay!
However…
She wouldn’t be working at the grocery store… ever….
And… she wasn’t planning to be poor… ever….
That’s her version of truth….
Notes On Destiny — Stage Three ( Finale)
I am not good with goodbye. Yet, I remember Christine Graves’s advice to stay on the path while writing a serial.
Hence, I am going to challenge myself with “goodbye” by presenting the finale in the form of a drabble. 100 words. No more and no less.
Let’s see…. I am excited!
The clue for the finale…
“The world will ask you who you are, and if you don’t know, the world will tell you.” ( Carl Jung)
Christine Graves, with her inspiration through March words… thank you so much! I chose book, music, awakening, and time for the first part of the story. Money, creation, passion, and journal are the second part.
And, of course, thank you for creating the Amusing Response… a wonderful space for my thoughts.
Maria Rattray, as you requested, I am tagging you on Destiny’s next journey.
Annelise Lords… I enjoyed your interaction with my story. Hence, I decided to tag you. I hope it’s okay!
Neera Handa Dr…, I can’t leave you out of this since you’re my Muse!