As the evening wore on, the setting sun cast long shadows across the bedroom. The once cheerful atmosphere now felt heavy with grief.
Shanane lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her eyes were red from crying, and her body felt heavy with exhaustion. Beside her, Aurora sat quietly, offering comfort in her mere presence.
Neither of them spoke for a while, the silence settling over them like a thick blanket. Aurora could see the turmoil and sadness etched on her friend's face, and her heart ached for her.
Finally, Aurora spoke up, her voice soft. "You should get some rest, Shanane. You've been through a lot in the past few days."
__Aurora: "I know it's hard. But you need to try and rest. You're going to need your strength for tomorrow." she reached out and brushed a strand of hair from Shanane's forehead.
Taking a deep breath, Shanane pulled herself up into a sitting position on the bed.
__Shanane: "I suppose I should start packing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to get ready for the journey back to the village."
Aurora stood up from the bed. "Do you need any help?"
Shanane shook her head. "No, I think I can handle it. You should get some rest, too."
__Aurora: "Okay. But call me if you need anything, alright?" she nodded
__Shanane: "I will," She agreed, her voice still shaky.
With a last squeeze on the shoulder, Aurora left the room, leaving the braided hair woman alone with her thoughts and the painful task of packing her belongings.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes roaming over her belongings and the life she had built in the city. But right now, none of it seemed to matter as much as the journey ahead to say her final farewell to her grandmother.
As she gathered her clothes and personal items, the young black woman felt her heart grow heavier. Each article of clothing or trinket she picked up served as a painful reminder of her grandmother in some way: the soft shawl her grandmother had gifted her on her 18th birthday, the faded patchwork quilt her grandmother had made for her bed, the handmade earrings her grandmother had sent her just a few months ago. The silence of the room was deafening, the only sound her own breathing and the occasional rustle of fabric.
Despite the pain, She moved quickly, determined to finish her packing so she could get some sleep. But as she worked, her mind kept wandering back to her grandmother. The memories came flooding back, one after another, like a movie reel playing in her head. She could see her grandmother's face, hear her voice, and remember the touch of her soft, wrinkled hand.
Every time her grandmother's memory came to mind, a fresh wave of sadness washed over her. The grief was almost overwhelming, and for a moment, she had to stop packing and sit down on the bed. She took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to control the flood of emotions coursing through her.
But as hard as she tried, the tears came anyway. Silent, hot tears streamed down her face as she fought to keep herself together. The grief was overpowering, and in that moment, she allowed herself to feel the full intensity of it.
It was a release that she desperately needed, and for several minutes, she just sat there on the bed, crying and letting all the pain and sorrow wash over her.
After what felt like an eternity, the tears slowed, and she was able to take a few deep breaths. She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand and looked at the pile of clothes and items spread out across the bed. The packing could wait. Right now, she needed a moment to gather herself.
Slowly, She climbed into bed, curling up under the covers. The bed felt cold and empty, and she longed for the familiar comfort of her embrace. She wondered how she was going to make it through the upcoming days. The journey back to the village, the funeral, the goodbyes. It all seemed like an unbearable task.
Each time she caught a glimpse of rest, her grandmother's face would appear in her dreams, reminding her of the reality she was facing. Memories of her grandmother, mixed with thoughts of the journey ahead, swirled in her mind like an endless storm. The more she tried to push them away, the more they seemed to consume her. She tossed and turned in the bed, her body tense with the weight of her grief and anxiety.
The hours ticked by, each second feeling like an eternity. Her eyes remained closed, but sleep eluded her. She lay there, lost in a sea of her own despair and longing for the peace that only sleep could bring.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and Shanane fell into a restless sleep, haunted by dreams of her grandmother and the journey she would soon embark on. The night was long and filled with memories, both happy and sad, that refused to let her rest peacefully.
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∆ ☆ ATHERAMOND ☆ ∆
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As the first light of dawn seeped through the blinds, the braided hair woman opened her eyes. She had managed to sleep a little, but her body still felt heavy with exhaustion. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes as she tried to shake off the lingering fog of sleep.
As the memories of the previous day flooded back, a sense of dread settled heavily in her chest. Today was the day she had to return to the village, the village where her grandmother had lived and where she would now be laid to rest. The thought was almost more than Shanane could bear, and she drew a shaky breath as she rose from the bed.
She glanced at the pile of belongings she had packed the night before. It wasn't much, just a few clothes, some toiletries, and a few sentimental items from her childhood. It all seemed so insignificant in the face of the overwhelming grief she was about to face.
With a sigh, she made her way to the bathroom. The cold water from the shower helped to clear her head a bit, but it did nothing to ease the ache in her heart. As she dressed in the simple clothes she had set aside for the journey, she felt a strange mix of numbness and resignation.
As she emerged from the bathroom, she found Aurora already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The sight of her friend grounded her for a moment, reminding her that she wasn't entirely alone in this.
__Aurora: "Hey. I made some breakfast. You need to eat something before we head out."
the brunette said, looking up as Shanane entered
The braided hair woman nodded silently, taking a seat at the small kitchen table. The food in front of her looked unappetizing, but she knew Aurora was right. She picked up her fork and started eating, though the food tasted like ash in her mouth.
Aurora watched her silently, concern etched on her face. She knew that nothing she could say would ease Shanane's pain, but her presence alone seemed to offer a small measure of comfort. The two women ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as the sun rose higher in the sky.
When the meal was finished, Shanane pushed her plate away, unable to eat another bite. The reality of what lay ahead was becoming increasingly real, and the anxiety was nearly overwhelming. Her hands trembled as she stood up from the table, her legs feeling weak beneath her.
Aurora noticed the distress on her friend's face and stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
__Aurora: "Are you ready?" she asked softly.
__Shanane: "As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, her voice quivering slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.
__Aurora: "Alright. Then let's go." she said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "
With a final deep breath, the black young woman picked up her bag and followed Aurora out of the house, steeling herself for the pain and sadness that awaited her at the village.
Aurora kept pace beside Shanane as they walked towards the train station. She could sense the weight of the situation on her friend's shoulders, and she was determined to offer as much support as possible. The two women walked in silence, the hum of the city and the crunch of their footsteps against the pavement providing a sort of white noise that filled the space between them. As the station came into view, Aurora gently rested a hand on Shanane's back, an unspoken gesture of comfort and solidarity.
The young black woman glanced at Aurora, grateful for her friend's presence. As they entered the station, she swallowed, her throat tight with emotion. The sight of the station sent a wave of anxiety coursing through her. She felt her senses assaulted by a barrage of sounds and sights, the clacking of train wheels against tracks, the murmurs of other travelers, and the bright lights of the terminal. It all felt distant and unreal, like she was merely an observer in her own life.
They arrived at the ticket booth and purchased their tickets for the train that would take her back to the village.
With the tickets in hand, the two women made their way to the boarding platform, their footsteps growing more measured and deliberate with each step. The train sat waiting, its engine humming slightly as passengers climbed aboard.
Aurora turned to Shanane, her eyes filled with empathy and concern.
__Aurora: "Are you going to be okay?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shanane took a deep breath, trying to steady the emotions that threatened to break the surface.
__Shanane: "I don't know. This is just…so much all at once, y'know? I feel like I'm being torn apart." she admitted, the honesty raw in her voice
__Aurora: "I know. But you're not alone, okay? I'm here with you." she replied gently
Shanane nodded, the gesture both grateful and sad. As they waited for the train to leave the station, she took one last look at the city she was leaving behind, the tall buildings and busy streets now seeming like a world away.
The whistle of the train sounded, jolting Shanane back to reality. She took a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears as she turned to face Aurora. The two women embraced each other tightly, holding on for a few seconds longer than usual.
Aurora held Shanane close, her voice soft and comforting as she spoke.
__Aurora: "I love you." the brunette whispered. "And I'll be here when you need me. Call me when you get there, okay?"
__Shanane: "Okay. I will. I promise." the young black woman replied in a voice barely above a whisper.
The train's engine revved again, signaling their final call to board. Reluctantly, the two women pulled apart, each steeling themselves for the impending separation. As Shanane boarded the train, the weight of the situation weighed heavily on her shoulders, her heart constricted with pain. She found an empty seat by the window and sank into it, watching as the city began to slip away from her with each passing second.
The train started to move, the world outside the window blurring as it gained speed. Shanane leaned her forehead against the cold glass, her mind swirling with a mix of thoughts and emotions. The pain of knowing she was saying goodbye to her grandmother for the last time was almost too much for her to bear.
The cityscape gave way to open countryside, the urban sprawl replaced by fields and forests. As she watched the landscape race by, She felt a pang of loneliness in her chest. The journey to the village seemed to drag on, each mile bringing her closer to the painful reality that awaited her.