writing_shadows

Walk with Lily and Nef in the park. Puppy runs fast; always lively. Lily smiles, happy.

Sit, let her run with puppy. Watch. Want. Wait. Rise; walk away from joy, follow scent of misery.

Ghost waits under tree, where she died. See the stain. Know she has crossed line; just fear, but crossing the line. Pull on the Shroud.

Later, Lily runs back; finds me, smiling. Nef runs after.

"You look tired." She kisses me, gentle, lets me nip, gentle. "You've been burning the candle at both ends."

I shrug. Weary from the struggle, but can't explain.

Walk home, standing close.

Under tree, ghost waits, hurting. Just fear; no need to destroy. Call Kate, perhaps.

See another on the way home. Shadow of a wall. Was a man, scent of plasm across the line.

Come back later. For now, with Lily, just walking, but duty never ends.