"How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and how miserable is the soul that depends on these two."
Sinister shadows, images of green dragons and evil wizards, draw the curtain down on the fate of pixies and fairies; locked in separate conflicts. Such are their mythical stories, fables that call out to be fed; once upon. Playful tales that need to be penned on; reattached to the rest of the body. A pin prick mightier than the sword. Drawing first blood, then maps, an inkling stave against fear and hopelessness. Such are the callings of storybook imagination, a haunting, dreamy existence come to life. Bringing fear, terror to the child like mind; then hope and freedom. Fortunates, foretold by the gypsies along the journey. A long listening path, way out from the unhappy past tidings. A twisting, turning story ending through the darkness. Follow the moral and reach one's salvation. Flash. 'You're going to find love with someone you can't live without and she is going to feel the same about you. But you have to tell her. You need to tell her. And then a time will come when you'll be apart, and she won't care if she lives or dies and neither will you...' Ponder. Such re-remembering... Over and over, it sits upon the wall, laughing at our hero. Fragile and unhatched. A white knight aimlessly wandering through the forgotten woods. Quest. Questions, for a kingdom never his own; a home. Or perhaps it is. There is reason to it. Mocking and repeating. Valiantly fighting for the belief in words; magic and faith. Grasp. A singing sword; ringing truth. Left weakened, bleeding air. Crimson red ink spilling down the pages, soon run clear down the cheek; once again freshly assaulted. The lovers' quest. Such bitter struggle with oneself; a trusted companion who only wants the best for you. Faithful but deeply wounded. So heroic to the damsel tangled up in the confines of the known and stolen innocence; split by light and dark. An unknown, granting release from the tightening grip of loneliness. Just use your sword; cut through the music. Release. Flash. ...a boat, run aground, lays bleached by the sun; rusted by the damp air and neglect. Surrounded by the chorus of gulls and geese... Disturbed. Again, another mindful cast away... Whose fairy tale is this anyways?
A pale voice, thinned by the outside air, materializes into the inner with a puff of white smoke and elven like thoughts.
"Everything alright? I can feel you brooding over something, have you uncovered something else? Anything new? Something you might want to share? Anything at all... any little bit?"
"No, emptiness of thought in solitude; a piper pipping. Senseless, ryhmes and nursery merely of the mind. Questions overfilling our cup. Yet, overwhelming is the hunger... Are we alright?"
" Well, we've had nothing to eat but water for the past week. That's probably what you're feeling. This has been a messy affair, you do realize this don't you? I mean, I had to quit our job at the restaurant. People were judging us, now we're broke and can't afford to eat. Just be glad we still have a roof over our heads, but I assure you this is not going to last too much longer either. I don't know what to do."
"Hmmm, immortality, a body too shy and far away, here, merely a man. Can we not feed others? Others. Carry the skillful mercenary service; with flame and blade.
"No. I ca-can't. My passion for the culinary arts is gone, everything I make just tastes bitter and becomes over salted with tears. I can't go back to it... it hurts too much. I'm so tired of being here. Tired by everything. You know, Jim has been helping out a bit. At least, whenever he comes around. Our old acquaintances are the only ones we have left in this city. Turns out all the friends we made here vanished when we could no longer do anything for them."
"Mages; casting spells and enchantments. Illusions, light bent around hearts and eyes. Peered through with half lies and homeward covered truths. Sadly whispered, what really is, pressed and covered, silenced to one they called friend."
"You're just being paranoid, you need to come back to reality a bit. We've known these guys all of our lives, from home. They are like brothers to us, and right now, the only friends we seem to have in this cursed city... I don't know what else to do. I don't really like it but I might try to steal something to eat from the market down the street. Its about survival right?
Dissapproval. "Oh... poor strength, a body tapped and drained, running away with our vapours. Tempting from family in ages past, plays its part shamefully; now, a price any greater, never more. Are we to quest like common thieves? Taking what is not ours?
"Well, what do you suggest then?"
"Hee-he. An Idea. Hmmm, on our course, we met a gypsy; a sly Mr. Fox. Clever was his family; earning, by heart alone. At least until the mind finally settles. See here. here...
Flash. "...are you really a gypsy? Really. Where'd you work before this. I see. Ok what else can you do? You seem to be a jack of all trades..." Blur. Shift. "...Hey, thanks for inviting us over Yanko. Wow, you have a lot of instruments in here. Can you play them all? Your kids can play too? Even your wife? Hahaha! The gypsy way. No, thats pretty cool..." Blur. Shift. "...If I ever need to talk? Thank-you, I will. Though, when you're like me you're never truely alone. I don't know. I think I'm going to become a writer. I mean, I've written poetry in the past with some success, maybe I'll see if I can make a go of it for a career..."
Listen, guided along life by soulful music; drumming beats of the heart. Conjure imagination with feather tip and paper bindings; A fairy tale brought to life through feeling and emotion. Just listen. Time after time."
"Its a pretty good idea, not really an immediate solution though. Do you think this will win us Jennifer's love? Write what she needs?"
"No... Remorseful. Understand. Unfortunate acceptance to what we already have, and will never, ever have. The defence was built. Proven; rampart to another damaging self conflict."
"So why write one then? It is not going to feed us."
" A shield, armor, easing the blows of sorrowful remorse; outlet to the onslaught of emotion. If only to ease your pain; open your ears."
"You know something, we know the restaurant business fairly well. Maybe I should try my hand at being a server. Might work, at least for now."
A renewed hunger for the land of the living, draws away the specter, wailing into the light.
A tapered, renewed hope; hopeful strength for a soul's sake. Still, uncertainty follows this last bit of recovery. A burden best sheltered alone; for now. Flash. ...Poor Jenny. "I had no idea, I'm sorry that happened to you. How you protected your younger sister? You really do love your mother after all of that." Aching heart. I feel for her. She's looking for a fairytale; Prince Charming. I am completely lost in her eyes, seeking sympathy, understanding. Locked. Smile. So is she. 'My mother killed herself to make it stop, to protect us. She sacrificed herself for us.' A plea? Why is she pleading with us?...
A nervous body shaken; feelings unshakeable. Giants to be swatted. Still... Why was Jennifer intentionally put onto our path?
