| This was written some time in 1998 as is adapted from the second story in a series that I called The Link. Its a sci-fi, futuristic story the first of which i wrote in 1995. This was one of the most striking scenes in the story, and was easy to turn into a monologue. The brackets indicate stage directions. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ <approach gravestone, lay bouquet of white roses on grass before stone. Smooth hair, done up in plaits woven with red ribbons. Smooth velvet dress, red. Gravestone is white marble, with red marble celtic cross. Inscription reads: Elise Catherine Richardson, born 13 Seloloki [September] 2289, died 24 Jankleo [July] 2295. Beloved Daughter and sister. She will never be forgotten because she loved and was loved.> Elise, I know that I come here every year, but I have to. I feel so guilty. I know that we were only five and all, and mum always told us not to go near that river. But you know kids, <chuckle> the one thing that you tell them not to do, is the one thing that they want to do the most. Right? Well, I am still so sorry. I know that anything I say won�t excuse the fact that I just stood there on the bank of the Seinne and watched you flail about in the current and hear you cry out and be powerless to do anything. And finally, when I could move to try and save you, it was already too late. I held out my hand to you, tried to call you back with my powers, but you were going under, and when Da came back, and saw me there, he pulled me back, only to see you being pulled away. The millisecond that your heart stopped, so did mine. I felt like part of my body had been wrenched away. I still do. I fell out of Da�s arms and hit the ground. I was in a coma for a whole year. It seemed that the whole time I was out, I could still see you; still hear your voice. <Pause, look over shoulder seeming to hear something. Shrug, and return attention to grave stone.> Oh Elise! I miss you so much! It�s been fifteen years. No one knows how much guilt I have penned up inside. I know that if you were here right now, you would stand there with your hands on your hips <places hands on hips in demonstration> and say, �Chrys Catina Richardson, you shouldn�t blame yourself for my death. It was an accident. It was meant to be, the Queen Goddess Amina wanted me with her.� <Shake head slowly, sadly> Maybe it was <sigh> but if my body had obeyed my mind, I might have had a chance to save you. That�s what hurts so badly. Even now, after all this time, at night, I think I can still feel you near me. Maybe I dream it, but I can see you standing on the banks of the river, still looking like you did that fateful day. Amina�s standing next to you, <smiles, tears beginning to flow> you�re smiling, and telling me that its alright, that it wasn�t my fault. You�re trying to get me to release my guilt, make it rise and burn away like mist at dawn. I�ve called out to you so many times that I can�t even count them. I know that you hear me, but for some reason, you can�t answer. I wish that I knew you were alright. I mean, the other side has to be a great place and all, but what can beat being alive, and seeing so many wonderful things. <Falls to knees beside stone, wipe at eyes, sniffle> What hurts the most is that you will never grow up, never travel. Never have a boyfriend, get married, have children, see them grow up, and see your grandchildren. But most of all, we�ll never got to see each other again. We�ll never know what the other is doing or saying or feeling. <pause> But we�re connected. You can�t deny that. We�re twins, both made from the same almost calculable part of Mum�s body. Born on the same day. We spent the best years of our lives together. Only to have it torn away by one lousy day and a stupid river. I�ll always remember you as a beautiful little girl who was kind and sensitive. Even if we can�t see each or talk to each other. I know with the upmost certainty that we will always be thinking about each other. And one day, we�ll finally be together for eternity and then finally, everything will be okay. But until then, I�ll keep feeling guilty, and I�ll keep coming here and talking to you in a one sided conversation that I know you would die again to answer. But like I said, one day we�ll meet up on the other side and we�ll be reunited for good. <kiss fingers and lay them over the cross on the gravestone, leave fingers touching stone> I miss you so much and I�ll always be thinking about you. <stand and look down as if to hold on to moment and collect thoughts, then turn and walk slowly away, not looking back> |