De road was longer dan I remembered, de shadows deeper. My own shadow
looked like a grotesque, alien thing with too-long legs and a tiny head.
Could five months really have passed? I remembered everyt'ing dat had happened here like it was yesterday. De memories were strangely sweet t' me. Sometimes, dey were de only t'ing dat kept me from crumbling under de fear at what I'd done. What we'd all done.
Dat froze me. A lot could change in five months. People didn't stay de same. De only constant was change. Mebbe I should've just turned back, not darkened her door. But den where could I have gone? Not home again, surely. Dere were only so many times de family would take me back. I gritted my teeth and forced myself forward. Some t'ings had t' be experienced t' be understood, and I wanted t' understand how de time had shaped her and me.
De setting sun was bright and painful in my eyes. De color bled across my vision. Everyt'ing was bloody. I shut my eyes and turned my face away from de light, brushing some hair off my cheek. It was longer den it had been and curled slightly around my face and over my collar.
Midwinter in Massachusetts had no promise of spring. Dere was a nipping eagerness in de air dat tore through my clothes. I shivered. Mebbe dis wasn't de place for me after all. Who could live in such cold? I might as well have been standing dere naked for all de good my clothes did. Even de long duster only seemed t' flap and flap, making more wind, more cold. De chill bit into my skin wit' carnivorous zeal. I pulled de collar on de duster up around my neck and continued de trek t' the font door. My feet crackled t'rough de frosty grass.
De lights in de front windows were lit butter yellow against de darkness swooping in over de countryside. De light was welcoming, but at de same time made me feel like more of de outsider. Sketchy outlines of trees in front of de house stood out black against de light. Could see people moving inside, shadows.
I put my hand on de front doorknob and stopped, knowing dat dey would never want me. De cold metal burned sharp in my hand. Den, as if by magic, de door opened under my fingers. Could never be sure whether it was me dat opened it, or de girl behind wit' de bubblegum voice.
Startled, we looked at each other for a long time.
"Um...can I help you?"
Took me a second t' find my courage, another one t' find my breath. "'m here t' see Rogue."
Somewhere, in de part of de room I couldn't see, someone drew in dere breath sharply. In de next moment, almost faster dan I could follow, Rogue came barreling into my stomach. De force of her felt like a fist, but her arms were warm around me.
"Oh my god," I heard her whisper.
Her hair smelled like oranges and cinnamon.
FIN
* * *
what a long, strange trip it's been, eh? and for anyone who wants to know/cares, I am indeed contemplating a third story to round out this little arc. the way I see it, the first story is Rogue's, the second story Remy's and so the third story should be both of theirs. does anyone besides me think this is a good idea?
ChristyS: I'll have to check out "The Cat Who Wanted to be a Man." I was a big fan of the Vesper Holly books too (I'm all about female empowerment, yeah!) And I don't think you're being pushy at all. As I say, I was thinking of a third story and it's nice to know that someone would be willing to read a third story.
Starlightz6: This is the way I wanted to end it all along. And it's happy...sort of! There's a quote about Bernard Malamud (author of "The Natural") that I think really applies to my outlook on endings: "A Romantic, he writes of heroes; a realist, he writes of their defeats."
Lucky439: Never say never, my friend. ;-) I've read too many comics to be THAT cruel. Seriously, Marvel? It's been 17 years, cut the crap already!
Lady MR: Everyone must think I'm this enormous downer. Anyway, to prove y'all wrong I have written a happy ending! Yay! Lets all toss come confetti. ;-) Believe it or not, I did actually plan it this way. Thinking about the 90s TV show never fails to get the theme song stuck in my head for like 10 years...doo doo doo doo DOOO de doo
Neurotic Temptress: Hmm...re-reading your comment has made me want to write a little missing scene featuring the x-men rescuing Xavier. I am thinking of something right now. Damn you! I try and try to make room for other writing and I think I do a pretty good job too and then you come with your additional ideas and...and...[sobs]
Evolutionary spider: See my above bitching and complaining. My idea is that they've caught Essex (not without much effort) and now Remy is free to...y'know, date and stuff. ;-) But I've been tempted towards writing missing scenes and... [clutches head] I've totally created a monster.
Jean1: Thanks! Yeah, okay I think you guys have convinced me. Trilogy- land here I come!
Could five months really have passed? I remembered everyt'ing dat had happened here like it was yesterday. De memories were strangely sweet t' me. Sometimes, dey were de only t'ing dat kept me from crumbling under de fear at what I'd done. What we'd all done.
Dat froze me. A lot could change in five months. People didn't stay de same. De only constant was change. Mebbe I should've just turned back, not darkened her door. But den where could I have gone? Not home again, surely. Dere were only so many times de family would take me back. I gritted my teeth and forced myself forward. Some t'ings had t' be experienced t' be understood, and I wanted t' understand how de time had shaped her and me.
De setting sun was bright and painful in my eyes. De color bled across my vision. Everyt'ing was bloody. I shut my eyes and turned my face away from de light, brushing some hair off my cheek. It was longer den it had been and curled slightly around my face and over my collar.
Midwinter in Massachusetts had no promise of spring. Dere was a nipping eagerness in de air dat tore through my clothes. I shivered. Mebbe dis wasn't de place for me after all. Who could live in such cold? I might as well have been standing dere naked for all de good my clothes did. Even de long duster only seemed t' flap and flap, making more wind, more cold. De chill bit into my skin wit' carnivorous zeal. I pulled de collar on de duster up around my neck and continued de trek t' the font door. My feet crackled t'rough de frosty grass.
De lights in de front windows were lit butter yellow against de darkness swooping in over de countryside. De light was welcoming, but at de same time made me feel like more of de outsider. Sketchy outlines of trees in front of de house stood out black against de light. Could see people moving inside, shadows.
I put my hand on de front doorknob and stopped, knowing dat dey would never want me. De cold metal burned sharp in my hand. Den, as if by magic, de door opened under my fingers. Could never be sure whether it was me dat opened it, or de girl behind wit' de bubblegum voice.
Startled, we looked at each other for a long time.
"Um...can I help you?"
Took me a second t' find my courage, another one t' find my breath. "'m here t' see Rogue."
Somewhere, in de part of de room I couldn't see, someone drew in dere breath sharply. In de next moment, almost faster dan I could follow, Rogue came barreling into my stomach. De force of her felt like a fist, but her arms were warm around me.
"Oh my god," I heard her whisper.
Her hair smelled like oranges and cinnamon.
FIN
* * *
what a long, strange trip it's been, eh? and for anyone who wants to know/cares, I am indeed contemplating a third story to round out this little arc. the way I see it, the first story is Rogue's, the second story Remy's and so the third story should be both of theirs. does anyone besides me think this is a good idea?
ChristyS: I'll have to check out "The Cat Who Wanted to be a Man." I was a big fan of the Vesper Holly books too (I'm all about female empowerment, yeah!) And I don't think you're being pushy at all. As I say, I was thinking of a third story and it's nice to know that someone would be willing to read a third story.
Starlightz6: This is the way I wanted to end it all along. And it's happy...sort of! There's a quote about Bernard Malamud (author of "The Natural") that I think really applies to my outlook on endings: "A Romantic, he writes of heroes; a realist, he writes of their defeats."
Lucky439: Never say never, my friend. ;-) I've read too many comics to be THAT cruel. Seriously, Marvel? It's been 17 years, cut the crap already!
Lady MR: Everyone must think I'm this enormous downer. Anyway, to prove y'all wrong I have written a happy ending! Yay! Lets all toss come confetti. ;-) Believe it or not, I did actually plan it this way. Thinking about the 90s TV show never fails to get the theme song stuck in my head for like 10 years...doo doo doo doo DOOO de doo
Neurotic Temptress: Hmm...re-reading your comment has made me want to write a little missing scene featuring the x-men rescuing Xavier. I am thinking of something right now. Damn you! I try and try to make room for other writing and I think I do a pretty good job too and then you come with your additional ideas and...and...[sobs]
Evolutionary spider: See my above bitching and complaining. My idea is that they've caught Essex (not without much effort) and now Remy is free to...y'know, date and stuff. ;-) But I've been tempted towards writing missing scenes and... [clutches head] I've totally created a monster.
Jean1: Thanks! Yeah, okay I think you guys have convinced me. Trilogy- land here I come!