The Guardian Challenge:
Guardian
By: Karen Marin
It's been a week already. A week, and Serene still felt empty and lost. They said it would take a long time to get over this but they never mentioned the pain and suffering she would go through. They never mentioned the total emptiness and the loneliness she would be feeling. It was too much for her to take.
She blinked her red rimmed eyes free of tears and wiped them away with the long sleeve of her black shirt. She stared down at the picture frame she was holding in her left hand and gently ran her thumb across the face of a young man in the picture. The photo portrayed her and her husband on their wedding day. They were both smiling and holding each other close. That picture was two years old. Every day since she had met Warren was pure bliss, and after their wedding day, it just got better.
Fresh tears made their way down her pale cheeks. Her chocolate brown blinked furiously as a sob escaped her mouth. She held the picture close to her chest as her body shook furiously with the sobs she was trying to suppress.
“Waren...Please come back. Come back...” Serene whimpered as she slowly laid herself on the floor and curled into a ball. She held the picture frame close to her chest and let the tears and sob take over once again.
Hours passed with her laying there, crying her heart and soul out to her lost love. Now though, there was only silence. Serene, still lying on the floor, blinked blankly at the wall in front of her. Slowly, she pulled herself up into a sitting position and placed the picture frame on the floor in front of her. She calmly wiped her cheeks from the tears and gradually stood up.
With her decision already made, she glanced around the room. The room was dark, only light available was the dull light that shined through the window. It was almost seven in the evening, it would be dark soon. The walls were bare of all pictures, she had to take them down. Her...Their bed was neatly done on one side while the other side had the covers thrown, the pillow was in a vertical position, and the sheets were rumpled. The side table was bare of anything except a clock and a lamp. The dresser was opposite of the bed and had make up and perfumes scattered across the top. There were clothes thrown across the floor, all hers. With a sigh, Serene glanced at the picture frame on the floor one last time before making her way out of the bedroom, down the hall and into the laundry room.
Dragging her feet, she neared her drier and washing machine. She raised her head and looked for the bottle of chlorine she had bought the other day. Having found it, she reached for it and grunted as she picked it up. Slamming it down on the washer, she breathed a sigh of relief, it was heavy and full.
With determination in her eyes, she opened the bottle of chlorine, ready to gulp it down and end her life. With a gasp, she picked up the now light bottle and shook it. It was empty.
'How is that possible?' Serene thought, still in shock. 'It was full three seconds ago!'
Serene shook her head at the thought. It was her head playing tricks on her, it had to be. With a frustrated huff, she slammed the bottle to the floor and made her way out of the laundry room and to the bathroom.
As she left, a shadow silently materialized beside the bottle. It shook it's head slightly and sagged it's shoulders. It turned it's head toward the door and slowly faded out, just as silently as he came in.
Reaching the bathroom, Serene angrily tore open the door with a slam and made her way inside. She quickly glanced around the neatly made bathroom and made her way to the sink. She stared at her self for a moment in the mirror. Her hair was still a a mess, her eyes had bags under them, showing the lack of sleep she had been getting and her eyes themselves lacked life. It was like she was dead inside.
Angrily Serene shook her head and opened the medicine cabinet. Her eyes quickly scanned the bottles inside and reached for the full bottle of aspirin. Giving it a light shake and hearing the rattling inside, she hastily turned the cap and held the bottle upside down pointed to her open palm.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as nothing fell out. She hurriedly raised it to her eye level and saw nothing inside. She blinked blankly for a few seconds before an uncontrollable rage took over her. She threw the pill bottle against the wall and swept her hands over the counter top, knocking everything down to the floor in one sweep. She put her hands to her face and let out a mighty sob. She pulled at her hair and backed away from the mirror and counter top. Once her back hit the far wall, she slid herself down the wall and sat there quietly.
Unbeknown to her, the shadow was once again there, seemingly staring down at her. His head was bowed and though you couldn't see his face, you could tell he seemed saddened with her. He knelt down in front of her and placed a hand to Serene's bowed head.
At once, Serene's head shot up and she looked around quickly and saw...nothing. Though the shadow man was kneeling down right in front of her, she seemed not to see him as she glanced around the bathroom. He knelt there staring at her face, almost as if willing her to see him, but to no avail.
'How...strange.' She thought with slight shiver. She wiped her face once again with her palms and rubbed her arms up and down, trying to gain heat from the sudden coldness she felt.
With a new found strength she managed to pull out of herself, she stood up with determination. Her eyes set hard on the wall in front of her. She glared at the mirror for half a minute before stomping her way out of the bathroom and out of sight of the now standing shadow. With no purpose anymore in the bathroom now that Serene left it, it slowly started to fade away, like it did in the laundry room.
Because she lived in a twenty story apartment, her next plan would be simple and fool proof. There was no way she'd delusion it or mess it up. It'd be simple and fast. At least, she hoped. She lived on the 17th floor, so she ha a bit of climbing to do before she reached the roof top. Her hand on the hand rail, she slowly started walking her way up the stairs. Her eyes upward, she started to slowly gain speed. Soon, she was sprinting up the stairs, eager to reach the roof, and ultimately, her end.
Reaching the door to her salvation, he slammed herself against it and opened it wide only to stop at the entry. Almost reluctantly, she started walking forward. Slowly, she made her way to the edge of the building and leaned her hands against the flat top of the wall that came up to her waist.
She took in her surroundings, possibly for the last time, if all went well. Serene shook her head free of doubts and smiled gently as the wind started blowing. She glanced upward at the dimming sky. Must have been at least eight by now. The sun was almost fully set but the sky looked as beautiful as ever. Slow clouds lazily passed over head as well as birds flying off to find a place to sleep.
She glanced back to the buildings in her line of sight. Many may not find it beautiful, but there was an urban kind of beauty in the city of New York. Buildings were everywhere, loud noises, people talking, kids screaming and playing, life moving forward, while hers stood still. She then glanced down to the cars and the people who looked like ants to her. It was a long drop, one that would kill her quickly and hopefully, without any pain.
Climbing on to the flat surface, she stuck out her arms to keep her balance. Nervous and fearful all of a sudden she took a deep breathe to calm her nerves. She had to do this, there was no other choice for her. She couldn't go on living without Waren. There was no life without him. She had nothing left to live for.
“I'll be with you soon Waren...” She whispered softly to herself and the wind. Taking a deep breathe and closing here eyes she leaned forward and let herself fall to her, death.
As she fell, she felt her eyes water, her hair being pushed back and the sensation of falling asleep took over her. She gladly gave in to the temptation and passed out with a smile on her face.
Before she could even come close to the concrete ground, she was suspended mid-air. Floating higher, rather than falling down, the shadow held her close and he spread his wings and took flight back to the rooftop. As he landed and folded in his wings he looked down at Serene as he held her bridal style. Shaking his head with a sad smile he faded out of sight with her still in his arms and back into her bedroom.
He gently set her down on the still unmade side of the bed. He lifted the blankets and tucked her in, making sure she was comfortable. He bent over her, brushed her dark bangs away from her face and tenderly, with much love, kissed her forehead an then her lips.
He moved away from the bed and walked to the picture frame sill lying innocently and beautifully on the floor. He picked it up and stared at it. A bitter sweet smile came upon his face and he gently rubbed the picture with his thumb. He placed a gentle kiss on the frame and set it on the night table, along with a single feather. With a wave of his hand he made the words he told her a long time ago, appear on the picture, to remind her.
I'll always be there to protect you.
With a final loving glance toward Serene, he smiled and let the tears he'd been holding back fall from his eyes. With a bowed head, he faded from the room, but not from her life. He'd always be there for her. He was her protector, her loving guardian.
