On a clear day, you can see forever

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

Tuesday , October 20th, morning
Main street, just into town

It's very dark here.

She opens her eyes, but she cannot see.  I try to lead where I can, through the thin, fall-pruned trees, and she follows as she can.  It's slow going, with the brambles clutching at our ankles and blood drying on our cheeks.  Tears well in her eyes at that, threatening to mingle with the dark splatters, and I wipe them away.  It's what I am here to do.

There is a light in the distance, so bright it hurts our eyes.  She takes a step forward and I reach out to pull her back, but I'm not there and she walks ahead alone.

~~~~~

Everybody is gone now.  I call daddy's name but he doesn't answer and the light is very bright in my eyes.  It makes the whole world hard to see, even when I squint and put my hand at my eyes.  There are great shadows here too, tall and big over my head, and I think they are buildings.  If I could see, if I could sit and make my brain think, then I would know.  But I don't and I can't.  It was dark and now it's light and it won't go away.

It makes my head hurt and I want to cry again.  Big girls don't cry, Mama Susan says so.  Big girls don't cry, even when they want to and their eyes sting with fat tears.  They make a breath and go down the street, two legs that walk because they have a purpose in it.  The shadows against the light are buildings, yes, not monsters, and big girls know that too.  I want to be a big girl.

[Open to anyone on Main Street]

Comments

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

"I can, but--you sure?" Zann seems surprised I'm trusting her, and I nod.

"It makes sense," I say, low-voiced. "And if the child is to be left alone, it might be best it's with a woman... Men can intimidate children, and this one has been through a great deal, I think."

Zann tells Alice to slow down with her cake, and at once the child stops, lowering her eyes.

"It's alright, Alice," I say gently. "We just don't want you to eat too quickly or you will feel sick," I say. "Come now, finish your cake, and then maybe you can have a nap."

I straighten up.

"I'll be back in a little while," I say to Zann. "If you're hungry, do help yourself - there's bread in the bread bin." I smile at Alice and step out through the French doors and start walking along the street.

I get up to Main Street and find that the sheriff is out on her rounds. I leave a note for Mab, and then I walk along to Lucien's office. He is also out. Everyone is busy today, it seems. I leave him another note explaining what's happened and ask him to pop round at his convenience, and then I start walking back to the inn. What a strange day it has been, and it's not even time for lunch.

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

Nod to Valmont as he leaves and then look back to Alice, and go and sit on the floor next to the couch. "He's a nice guy, isn't he?" I say cheerfully. "He really is... I hadn't met him before now, you know. Kinda glad I did." I smile at her. "Don't worry about the cake, honest. You can always get more later."

She isn't falling asleep just yet, even if I think she's going to in just a bit, and she's acting like it hurts her to talk. I hesitate a second, then pull a piece of string out of my jacket pocket, tie it into a loop and hold it up. I don't want to ignore her or just stare at her, both seem cold and I think the poor kid's had enough of that.

"Hey, hon--Alice, I'm sorry--you know how to play cat's cradle? Look, let me show you..."

She decently good at it, we find out before she goes to sleep.