Sulphur 9, Faded Blue 29: Empty

[bookblather]

Author: Kat
Title: Empty
Story: In the Heart
Colors: Sulphur 9 (Fallen), faded blue 29 (Though I dream in vain, in my heart it always will remain).
Supplies and Materials: Tapestry, canvas (this is about seven years before Ivy's birth), seed beads (these guys are so not related to the main story), charcoal (Arelie), miniature, acrylic (automatic), oils (shadows dancing in the halls), stain (The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling. - Paula Poundstone), fabric (this picture), glitter (stranger), photography, pastels (suspension).
Word Count: 100
Rating: PG.
Summary: Arelie, in the days after.
Warnings: depiction of depression.
Notes: See, less horrible.


She's so tired.

She can't bear to look at herself in the mirror. First she left Farid, then she gave up Ahava-- what kind of person is she, that she can leave them behind so easily? Her lover, her daughter, ghosts in her heart, faces she'll never see again. She feels like a robot, emotionless, empty.

Her sins go further; sleeping with a married man, encouraging him to leave his wife, bearing an illegitimate child. The worst, she thinks, is the leaving, turning her face away and never thinking of return.

Something in her has cracked.

She's just so tired.

Comments

[isana]

It's a rare talent where someone can lay a character's sins bare and yet have the reader feel for them. I think it's because of the remorse that jumps from every word in this piece, which works because of its spareness. Good job.

[bookblather]

Thank you so much. For all of this. *hugs*

[finch]

Oh, this is... almost lush in its sparseness, because it says so much in so few words.

[bookblather]

Thank you so much! What a lovely compliment to get.

[dark_kana]

You actually made me feel for her despite telling me all her sins... But she's so sad and sorry and one just can't help but feel for her. Great job!

[bookblather]

She is. Thank you.

[settecorvi]

There is such palpable exhaustion and self-loathing here. I can't judge her for what she considers her crimes. I hope she gets help soon.

(I've said it before, but it bears repeating: you are so good at packing an emotional punch into a handful of words.)

[bookblather]

She does, and she recovers. It was... not a good time for anyone involved in that relationship, but Arelie comes out best of all of them, I think.

And thank you so much.

[shipwreck_light]

*fluffs story out*

*rolls around in it*

It's point and it burns, but it does it so well I just don't caaaaaaare about the ows.

[bookblather]

Hurts so good? *hugs*

Thank you.