Spookychild’s writings

Reaching the top of the hill in time to see the sunset, Sophia stopped walking to enjoy it. It was beautiful, even though it was very similar to other sunsets she had observed. The sky turned golden and red before the color faded into purple and blue. It hurt her somehow, deep inside below the physical pain and exhaustion.

How was it possible to enjoy this sunset when so many others couldn’t see it. The situation wasn’t fair. Sophia shouldn’t be enjoying it but lying dead somewhere like the man.

By all rights, she should be dead. “He is dead and gone, lady, he is dead and gone…” The mocking words seem to come to her. Trembling while attempting to hold back the tears from rolling down her cheek, Sophia turned away and headed down the hill, stumbling into twilight and the darkness. 

The night stretched into infinity. Sophia existed in limbo, sometimes walking, sometimes resting. The night moved on but in her mind, time stood still. She moved slowly, drifting westward. The stars stared down at her, sharp points of light, uncaring and cruel, offering no comfort.

The moon appeared late at night, an unfamiliar waning moon. She rarely saw this side of the moon. Even it seemed sinister to her as if she had somehow fallen into the opposite world where everything was evil. 

Dawn arrived, and a faint glow on the eastern horizon spread slowly. Sophia enjoyed the sunrise while resting, sitting on a hill facing east, and watching the light spreading all around her. When the light started hurting her eyes, she found the sunglasses again and put them on, then laid down on her side and closed both eyes. 

Time passed, and she slept but woke to another brilliant warm day. She drank some more water and ate some of the tasteless food. Once again, a nightmare march had begun. Hours passed, and silence reigned. Sophia rested before walking again till she stumbled. Her mind was a complete blank and she felt nothing except the pain, not thinking about anything but the urge to keep walking.