8 views
She knew the truth
In land where colossal mountains reached up to the clouded skies, where wood lilies danced with the autumn breezes, where glassy waters gleamed blue as Neptune in the darkest of nights, old Ombretta lived solitary underneath an aged, cinnamon-coloured, sycamore tree. Whether considered a blessing or a curse, she did have a grand collection of memories.
Ombretta had all which we desire, her peace.
But as the saying goes, ”we all just want what we can’t have.” And these few words could describe Ombretta in a nutshell. She made mistakes, affecting her in ways she would never have thought or imagined. She was aware that it had only been wishful thinking when she asked the stars to bring back the life she missed, bring back the one she loved, yet it didn’t stop her from doing this every night. In a land so pure, there would always be her,
a darkness to the light.
Ombretta's life was built under three conditions.
One, she had no senses but sight and hearing, jealous of those who do.
Two, she had to live in the dark- always and forever, living in the shadows.
Three, she could never part her sycamore tree, no matter how much she felt the need to.
Afterall, not following these conditions- well that would break the laws of nature.
Some may have called Ombretta’s life a curse of limits and loneliness, perhaps it was,
but this never would have happened if only she hadn’t asked for more.
She was young, as was he. They lived a long life, hundreds and hundreds of years together. They had much in common, living with the same conditioned life underneath two sycamore trees. Every day was different, exciting, and adventurous as they spent time together.
It was almost magic. Though they could not speak, they had a way of understanding each other. Though they could not smile, they had a way of laughing with each other.
And though they could not kiss, dance, or marry, they had a way of loving each other.
Now, every daybreak was spent just the same. Alone.
There were days she wanted to scream for help. But she couldn’t.
So instead, along with her wishes of love, she had asked the stars a question.
“If my heart should ache, and break, and there are days where I'd rather not wake, shouldn’t that be enough for him to come back to me?”
She received no answer.
Back in the past, Ombretta and her love started to become less and less adventurous, as they were reaching the limits of what they could possibly do without leaving their trees.
And this is where it started to collapse. She wishes she would've done things differently, but she can’t change the past, now can she? Ombretta took everything for granted, threw everything away, thinking that perfect wouldn’t last with their restrictions. She asked him to leave his tree just to attempt for a better life. And with his love for her, he did.
Just before he took that step from out beneath the shadows, he paused.
And for the first time, the very first time, he told her three words she’ll never forget.
“I love you.”
Then, before she could even reply, he left his tree.
Out of nowhere lightning flashed across the sky, rain pelting, raging because nature’s commandments weren’t being followed. Not all rules are made to be broken.
The earth started to rumble and crack, the world started to fall apart.
And the sycamore tree belonging to her love was torn out from the ground and had disappeared from existence. Her eyes locked on the empty space where
his sycamore had once laid,
the hole in the ground where its roots were once buried,
the swirl of clouds in the sky where its leaves were once swaying,
and the clear place next to her that was once taken by his soul.
Though it might’ve been too late,
though she probably missed her only chance,
she responded to him, as if he were still next to her,
“I really do... love you too.”
He was gone, as were her smiles and joys. The birds were still singing as if nothing had changed, the sky clearing up, the sun coming out, the water now rushing, the flowers still dancing, he didn’t matter to the world. But he mattered to her and always had.
People may say “you don’t know what you got till it's gone.”
Truth is, you knew what you had, you just never thought you’d lose it.
Through the frosty falls of her sycamore’s feathers, Ombretta watched in envy as other creatures had everything she did not. Silently observing those around her, she then realized something. All beings had a companion, one that would follow wherever they journeyed, one that would be there as they entered the light. These allies reminded her of him, “shadows”, she called them. And we believe that this realization sparked something in Ombretta’s soul, perhaps a single tear may have run down her cheek.
But all we know for sure is… sadness is the last thing she ever felt.
She thought, and remembered, and all felt as if she was in a terrible nightmare being blinded by a hazy dream. So many questions clouded her head; Why could she not hold the hand of her love? Why could she not touch or feel? Why could she not see the light of her world? If all had their own shadows, why not her?
She was planning to ask the shining stars last night, but she didn’t.
As deep down inside that empty soul of hers, she knew the truth.
It's because there are no such possessions for sycamore silhouettes like her.
Ombretta had all which we desire, her peace.
But as the saying goes, ”we all just want what we can’t have.” And these few words could describe Ombretta in a nutshell. She made mistakes, affecting her in ways she would never have thought or imagined. She was aware that it had only been wishful thinking when she asked the stars to bring back the life she missed, bring back the one she loved, yet it didn’t stop her from doing this every night. In a land so pure, there would always be her,
a darkness to the light.
Ombretta's life was built under three conditions.
One, she had no senses but sight and hearing, jealous of those who do.
Two, she had to live in the dark- always and forever, living in the shadows.
Three, she could never part her sycamore tree, no matter how much she felt the need to.
Afterall, not following these conditions- well that would break the laws of nature.
Some may have called Ombretta’s life a curse of limits and loneliness, perhaps it was,
but this never would have happened if only she hadn’t asked for more.
She was young, as was he. They lived a long life, hundreds and hundreds of years together. They had much in common, living with the same conditioned life underneath two sycamore trees. Every day was different, exciting, and adventurous as they spent time together.
It was almost magic. Though they could not speak, they had a way of understanding each other. Though they could not smile, they had a way of laughing with each other.
And though they could not kiss, dance, or marry, they had a way of loving each other.
Now, every daybreak was spent just the same. Alone.
There were days she wanted to scream for help. But she couldn’t.
So instead, along with her wishes of love, she had asked the stars a question.
“If my heart should ache, and break, and there are days where I'd rather not wake, shouldn’t that be enough for him to come back to me?”
She received no answer.
Back in the past, Ombretta and her love started to become less and less adventurous, as they were reaching the limits of what they could possibly do without leaving their trees.
And this is where it started to collapse. She wishes she would've done things differently, but she can’t change the past, now can she? Ombretta took everything for granted, threw everything away, thinking that perfect wouldn’t last with their restrictions. She asked him to leave his tree just to attempt for a better life. And with his love for her, he did.
Just before he took that step from out beneath the shadows, he paused.
And for the first time, the very first time, he told her three words she’ll never forget.
“I love you.”
Then, before she could even reply, he left his tree.
Out of nowhere lightning flashed across the sky, rain pelting, raging because nature’s commandments weren’t being followed. Not all rules are made to be broken.
The earth started to rumble and crack, the world started to fall apart.
And the sycamore tree belonging to her love was torn out from the ground and had disappeared from existence. Her eyes locked on the empty space where
his sycamore had once laid,
the hole in the ground where its roots were once buried,
the swirl of clouds in the sky where its leaves were once swaying,
and the clear place next to her that was once taken by his soul.
Though it might’ve been too late,
though she probably missed her only chance,
she responded to him, as if he were still next to her,
“I really do... love you too.”
He was gone, as were her smiles and joys. The birds were still singing as if nothing had changed, the sky clearing up, the sun coming out, the water now rushing, the flowers still dancing, he didn’t matter to the world. But he mattered to her and always had.
People may say “you don’t know what you got till it's gone.”
Truth is, you knew what you had, you just never thought you’d lose it.
Through the frosty falls of her sycamore’s feathers, Ombretta watched in envy as other creatures had everything she did not. Silently observing those around her, she then realized something. All beings had a companion, one that would follow wherever they journeyed, one that would be there as they entered the light. These allies reminded her of him, “shadows”, she called them. And we believe that this realization sparked something in Ombretta’s soul, perhaps a single tear may have run down her cheek.
But all we know for sure is… sadness is the last thing she ever felt.
She thought, and remembered, and all felt as if she was in a terrible nightmare being blinded by a hazy dream. So many questions clouded her head; Why could she not hold the hand of her love? Why could she not touch or feel? Why could she not see the light of her world? If all had their own shadows, why not her?
She was planning to ask the shining stars last night, but she didn’t.
As deep down inside that empty soul of hers, she knew the truth.
It's because there are no such possessions for sycamore silhouettes like her.
