Fragment no 52421

You're still in love with the one who broke your heart.

Afterlife

When Joe died in that car crash he expected to wind up at the gates of Heaven, or at worst, hell; not the apartment of Jane, his ex-girlfriend. But he was lodged there and couldn't exit the place. He watched her mourn his loss, not without a twinge of satisfaction. So you do miss me. He floated around her like a ghost, but utterly unable to communicate with her. He watched her grief, and occasionally his heart ached for her. He wanted to reach out to her and tell her it was all right. He was still around, though he didn't know why. Maybe it was her yearning for him that kept him on this earth?
But Jane did get over it, after about a month. She said she'd wear black for a year, but was putting on blue in a month, and pink two weeks after. Joe felt outraged. But what was he to say? Then there were the other men. He would resist going into the bedroom, and just stare at the visitor's shoes while sitting on the sofa in the living room, trying to shut his ears to her loud moans and screams. He wished he could at least turn the newspaper, or watch the television, to shut it out.
As he tried his best to use the remote, another voice beside him spoke. "Gets to you doesn't it?" Joe turned and saw another translucent spirit like himself. It was Simon, Jane's ex-lover, who had drowned in a boating accident while drunk. Since there was not much to do after death, Simon told Joe his afterlife story. He had been here four years, trapped in this apartment, and just like him, hearing the constant change of lovers. "This is hell," Simon said. "I bet they ran out of space down there and Lucifer been dissing out punishment as he deems sufficient. I bet they put rockstars in elevators listening to muzak, zookeepers in vegetable gardens, pilots in sunken ships and so on, ya bet?" And Simon wasn't alone, there was also Thomas. The first boyfriend of Jane, died one night after stumbling over some packed crates and falling right into the path of oncoming traffic.
"She's got the curse, our Jane," said Thomas, who remained a 15-year old boy, with a gentle smile. "I'm her first love, and she's not forgotten me. That's why I'm here."
"Well I damn well want to go," said Joe. "She was nice, but she wasn't the one for me. I love her, but I don't think I could MARRY her. That's in a different universe altogether you know. I don't think she wanted to marry me either. We were only together like...six months."
"Seven," said Simon. "Seven months. And three days."
"Why did you come over here so often?"asked Thomas.
"I..I stay with my parents," said Joe.
"Ah yes, guess you can't have the old folks hearing that!" gestured Joe.
So the three of them sat on the couch, listening to her. Thomas, the proper boy, would occasionally cover his ears, but if ghosts could shed tears, Joe know he would. Simon just looked bored, saying he would talk about the weather if it mattered, but it didn't. And Joe looked towards the bedroom door, wondering about Jane, and how long he would have to stand this torture before departing this dead world.

Emily Green

The bear turned to her and said "Thank you. It doesn't have to be now, nor tomorrow, but when you feel you are ready," it said.

Emily went home, and thought about everything. She spoke to Jules, her cat, who just purred as she spoke. It seemed more intent on having a meal.

Emily Green and the Dancing Bear

Every afternoon, Emily Green would wander around the park. She would feed the fishes in the pond, or the pigeons in the yard, or the squirrels in the trees (if she bought nuts).

Next to the pond was Old Man Garth, who played an accordion and kept a bear that danced along as he played. People would toss coins as Garth played. The bear was kept on a chain, and made to wear a frilly thing around its neck. Emily could not stand to watch the performance, but one day as she was passing by on her way to feed the pigeons, the bear called out to her, knowing that she could understand it.

"Emily, I know you. Please, I need my freedom. I was a cub when I was caged up. I want to feel the icy waters of the river flow beneath my feet. To see the leaves of trees turn from green to red as the season changes from summer to autumn. To walk on soft ground and dig up earthworms. Please Emily. You are the only one who can make me free."

Emily nodded to the bear, even as the audience watching the performance clapped and threw coins. She whispered to the bear, "I will free you, Mr Bear."

Emily Green

Somewhere in the world there is a City, self-important, full of people trying to master time, where smog and noise cloud the streets. On the edge of the city was a great wilderness, forgotten and often alone, which it prefered.

In the city lived Emily Green, a young girl who did not have the prettiest face, the sharpest mind, nor the most engaging smile, but she did have the kindest heart of all in the city. And because she had the kindest heart, the birds came to wake her up in the morning, passing dogs would bow wow and ask her 'how do you do' in the day, and the moon and stars would sing her to sleep at night. Emily Green loved nature, and nature loved her, but the city is always out to break hearts, especially the ones of those that are kind, like Emily Green.

(To be continued...)