Michael

Short Stories
2005-05-31 20:45:41 (UTC)

The Darkness In The Deep ... Page 2 / ?

He sighed softly, and closed his eyes. The vibrations of
the bus as it drove across the barely maintained road in the
darkness in the deep, made the stranger feel more tired than
he should be.
Sitting in a more comfortable position, he looked out the
window into the blackness and half heartedly tried to guess
the shapes in the distance. Spotting blobs of dark figures
against a dark backdrop ... not a terribly fun past time.
Yet, that was all the stranger had right now. All the time
in the world.
A soft rustling in the back, and Charlie knew that someone
else was awake. A small cry from a child, as a mother
lovingly coos to her child while offering her a bottle.
He sighed again, and closed his eyes more firmly. As if it
would somehow, block out the memories. The cursed blessing
of always remembering everything. The unwanted memories.
Unwanted, even as the memories overtook him again.

***

Two men stood on the wind swept docks at night. The
starless night offered some sort of unholy luminence, from
where, the men knew not nor cared to know. The docks were
not far from the sleepy little town, perhaps better named a
hamlet of sorts. The still quietness in the air, belied the
tenseness that could be felt between the two men.
One of the men, younger in years, shifted uncomfortable
where he stood.
"... I just wanted to be sure with you. I mean, you know,
that when you do this, you can't come back ... You won't be
able to ever come back."
"I know." said the other, quietly.
"... It's just," sighed the younger one. "I don't
understand. Why would you want to do something like this?
Why would you just throw away your whole life like that?"

The younger man stared at the older man, searchingly.
Wondering what it was that he could possibly be thinking for
doing this. Finally, a moment later he smiled sadly and
said, "Good luck ... It, was an honor." The younger man
turned, and started to walk away.
"Be good." said the older man.
The younger man turned, and smiled acknowledgingly before
continuing away from the docks.

Charlie turned to look at the waters, and bit his lower
lip. He stared at the churning, cold waters. Like a glimpse
into a cold hell, where the only thing was that the world
didn't burn at the touch. Rather, it drained your soul.

The truth was, there was no reason for Charlie to go back.
No reason, because, there was no one who would miss him. No
one was waiting for him, back home.




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