00 ~ 1921 ~ Blossom prelude

She was sleeping soundly despite the noises from the train.

Its rummage was but a distant lullaby to her now. She was about to forget where she was, and begin to dream.

The evening was setting its colours outside. She wasn’t looking at them, but they were still feeling like painting close to her face.

She was feeling nostalgic, mind trying to grasp something. As if this train ride was pulling her away from a painful past. As if she could really allow herself to sleep for the first time of her life.

She was still so young. On that evening, she felt herself going far, and feeling strangely at peace.

An unusual jolt woke her up suddenly. It took her a cold second to realize where she was, and remember why she was in there. The book she had held so far almost slipped from her hands. She pulled it back to her. An old book, with some undefined old stains on its cover.

She mechanically opened it, to recall to herself what its story was about. She began to read, unbothered by its odd perfume and collected stains now rubbed along her fingers. She wasn’t bothered by the constant rumble of the train. She was focusing on something else more important. Nothing else worth noticing was now happening around her. Her shrinking world focused on what she could read and remember.

Beside her, the seat closer to the window was left empty.

Someone never came she thought, a little puzzled. She oddly didn’t want to take the sit by the window, because she thought it was for someone else beside her.

Before she could ponder further, a voice pulled her out from her reverie.

Someone in front of her. Someone she knew, and felt gratitude for. An old and reassuring wrinkly face, motherly and kind.

- Esther, are you’re still reading that tale?

M - Yes, mother.

The young girl hardly lifted her eyes to look at her parents faces, as they sat in front of her.

They were both almost swallowed by the shadows growing as night was settling. They looked quite sleepy too, in this chiaroscuro scene she had.

She still had replied affirmatively with a shy voice. She was still trying to read the same story, getting the same touch on paper and the same perfume as ever.

Somehow she had again forgotten all about the story she had been trying to read earlier.

The sun couldn’t be seen anymore, but the sky still held a bit of its precious warmth and bright colours. Only a vanishing bit... The last sips of tea or honey she thought, glancing outside. It always felt different as she reached the end.

So far, the only thing she remembered from the book were its first words, still echoing as if spoken by a different voice. The few words that were opening the doors of bright and fascinating new worlds to her.

Once upon a time...

She smiled. She could see that her mother in front of her was smiling too. Her forehead was still glistening a bit despite the shades.

Mary-Esther looked a bit around her, without lowering the open pages of the book she held.

Now everything continued to slip into the night. The colours were gradually going away from her surroundings. The last lights of the day were kind enough to only reach her and her pages.

Her parents were fading along with the sight of the train, leaving somewhere behind.

She was feeling sleepy. The other passengers were turning to mere silhouette now, and she could hardly focus on seeing them. Their few talks and whispers merged with the constant music of the rolling train. She couldn’t understand a word.

She yawned unwillingly. Her father seemed to smile. She looked at him very carefully, unable to recognise his face anymore. On his right arm rested the left hand of his wife.

- You had... Quite a long day my dear.

They were both smiling a step away, but now she felt estranged and far away, so distant altogether.

- You should try to sleep sweetie. We won’t arrive before midnight.

She couldn’t read the printed or handwritten papers anyway. She closed her book after hearing these words.

M - Good night then?

- Good night sweetie....

The long train was surely rushing swiftly away, rattling all along. Its noises from the inside were an odd lullaby to her, helping her falling asleep.

She closed her eyes. She saw these patterns of smokes twirling behind her eyes as they adjusted.

She abandoned herself safely into the night.

Sinking slowly deeper into the unknown.

Maybe she forgot something.

May her dreams be sweet.

Good night.

~