Attic Memories : Short Story
9:53 p.m. & Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2004

Eyes scanned those pages, back rested against the windowsill. The sun that had long past the midway mark of the sky, poured the setting light through the window. The beach reflected in the background behind her. House empty, the small echos were of no mind to her. Today was the day, she knew it. Every moment or so she'd look up, neck craning to see the time the clock above showed. But never fast enough.

Small sigh registered before book slapped against her thigh. She couldn't stand waiting. Was it time so soon? She couldn't believe it though. Something to pass the time, it had to be found. Pausing for a moment, she stood from her resting place, stretching. Dropping book carelessly behind her, footsteps reverbrated as she crossed the room. Up flights of stairs she went, one after the other. Two floors up, hand skidded against the wood railing, polished to perfection. A small smile could be found, as she checked the clock on her wrist again, and then the date. Yes, today was the day.

Soon enough. Pushing her way towards the last floor, she stopped. Standing there now she looked up, eyeing a chain that was attached to the ceiling. Hand reached up, palm clasping tightly before she tugged. Out came the stairs that led to the attic, as she soon climbed them. Coughing up dust as she entered, god, how long had it been? Pulling the chain up behind her, as if knowing someone was watching, the stairs collasped upward once more.

She could barely just crouch enough. Each moment she made was met with a creaking sound. But, it was worth while. Hand moved to sweep the floor, as she searched for the signal. Fingertips ran against the wooden panels, for that one mark. A gasp as she found it and then a smirk. O.K.A. Pulling the wood from the floor, it gave way easily. But when one looked from far away, it was barely noticeable that it was a crevice for that which did not need to be found.

Coughing, she threw the board across the small attic, making more clatter then she had intended. Knees were digging into the floor, as she bent over into the compartment. Shaking hands reached slowly, for things that even these eyes hadn't seen in years. Almost as if in freeze frame, she pulled each thing out in reverance. First it was just meaningless papers, meaning to detour anyone if perhaps they had gotten this far.. but then.. picking up a photograph she let out a long held breath.

Spring, 2004. Her and Yuuriko's first meeting. It all came flooding back now, the memories, the time. The promises, everything they'd done together. Fingering the corner of the picture for a moment, she moved it into a pile beside her. Biting lip she knew what came next and it hurt to even look at it. A baggy, filled with long withered ashes. Papers, records, conversations, observations... these were the ashes of something so much more, something that held her together in his first long abscence.

A shake of the head before she quickly cast it aside, having no need for the recalling of bad thoughts. Reaching now, she gave another laugh. Her notebooks. Pulling the first one out, composition styled. The cover was fresh, as if just bought. But that was the way she had sent it to him... and the way he eventually gave it back to her. Opening it now, the pages were empty. Intended initally for outlines, stories, facts... but unable to be used for such at the time. So she sent the empty notebook off, and as the pages didn't tell a story, those harmless empty lines sure did. Memories of what she was and what she could be.

Digging further now, she laughed throughly. Cute, but horridly drawn, homemade comics were discovered. Each brought back another memory, significant for what had happened so long ago. Staring and stifling her giggles, she eventually put these aside as well. And last but not least... hand reached down for a smaller notebook, silver cover with a small rectangle of purple in the middle, decorated with a beaded leaf. A look of content spread as she flipped the pages, tainted with dust and old age. These thoughts were of times of doubt, things that she thought she'd never work through. How trivial it all seemed now.

A sound caused her to jerk head upward, eyes watching as her body paused, the stairs to the attic were being pulled down. She said nothing as she watched, hands moving to protect her loved memories. Eyes met face to face before he spoke.

" You know, hiding in the attic isn't very ideal for a first meeting when I tell you specific times and places.. "

She could say nothing but laugh nervously, before filing things back into the hole where a board was supposed to be.

" Couldn't bare to part I see, even the ashes? "

His head moved to glance at the objects she put back.

" It's what I do.. "

A nod as he understood, before waving a hand.

" Yuu is being fitted at the moment, she wants you there as soon as possible.. you can take your memory lane objects with you if you wish.. "

She shook her head.

" Why would I do that? You're both here now?"

" And you're not upset?"

" Why should I be? It's all part of the plan."

Silence proceeded, before he made his way down the stairs.. but stopped halfway.

" I hope you're not going like that, you're all covered in dust."

" Aww, librarian smell was growing on me, you're no fun. "

He gave her a look for a moment, one that she knew even without seeing him make it before.

" Yes yes, I'll be out in a minute.. "

Dropping the floor board back, she took knife out of her pocket.. scraping out the initials, making it just an indention in the wood. It would all be the past now, no such need for things anymore. Eyes looked around for a moment, before moving to the stairs again... Pushing them up after she was off, they folded up into the attic.

He was leaning against the wall, watching her, those damnable sunglasses upon his face.

" Do I still get to toss the flowers?"

" Only if you promise not to throw them at people.."

" Oh now that takes the fun away.. "

And they were out the door.

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[ Highly unfinished and very vague. Inspired from todays 'events'. It's not supposed to make sense.. just have a lot of emotion. Feedback is nice. - Okashi ]

remember when?
lover you don't have to love - Sunday, Jul. 06, 2014
- - Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005
Catch up? - Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005
nothing - Monday, Aug. 29, 2005
missing dland - Thursday, Aug. 04, 2005

rewind & forward