(Photo: Janko Ferlič on Unsplash)
She had vowed to not come back. Ever. Not to live. For sure not that.
It did not mean she would not try to visit. Or to glimpse. To set out in a morning’s determination only to curl around via rambling roads and pause at every bridge and barn until it got too late to see a thing or she lost nerve and drove home steeped in a tired mix of relief and disappointment.
“I’ll come with you,” Elmira finally said. She placed a warm hand on the base of Anastasia’s neck, hoping to soften the tension it held whenever memories threatened flood.
Anastasia shook her head. “There is nothing behind the wall except a space where the wind whistles.”
“And yet,” Elmira kneaded gently, “the Orphanage’s whistles still tell stories. Perhaps the likes of which your soul insists ought to be heard.”
Prosery prompt: “there is nothing behind the wall except a space where the wind whistles” from “Drawings By Children” by Lisel Mueller
For the dVerse prosery challenge
Na'ama Yehuda 
Elmira is just the kind of support person she needs. I hope she gets or finds what she needs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Yes, I think we all need some Elmiras in our lives at one time or another. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s difficult to face some memories, revisit some places, and I found myself in so much sympathy with Anastasia. It takes courage and the helping hand of a friend. All of which you bring out beautifully in this carefully crafted scene..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dora! Yes, exactly! I’m glad for the sympathy toward Anastasia and the sense of Elmira’s kindness. We all deserve good friends who can gently prod us toward what we know we must face but are too wary to address. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! We all need an Elmira now and again to help us face our demons. Wonderfully done, Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dale! Here’s to Elmiras and their gentle strength and wellspring of friendship! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hear! Hear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
xoxo
LikeLike
Elmira is a rare and excellent friend. Anyone who knows someone like her is blessed.
~cie from poetry of the netherworld~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, ~cie! Yea, it is a lucky thing to have an Elmira friend! 🙂 May we all be so blessed! Thank you for reading and commenting!
LikeLike
A beautifully poetic and poignant prose piece! Those stories need to be heard but are still hard to listen to at times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ingrid. Indeed these can be so difficult to face and listen to. If we must, it is good we’d have an Elmira at our side …
LikeLiked by 1 person
So poignant! I’m glad she has such a good friend as Elmira to help her. 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yay to Elmira! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ghosts of our pasts can be found anywhere we’ve been. But, who would search for them alone? Good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I think some might search and many more may be trying to avoid them till they realize that they might need to have a sit-down with these ghosts to either come to terms with living with them or release them to the wind …
LikeLike
Oh, that is well said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thank you!
LikeLike