Recurring Dreams
Elinor stirred awake, face slumped against a pillow, as she blindly reaches for her bedroom windows handle. When her hand felt the glass, she gave it a little push just enough for the fresh air to enter and replace the humid air of her room. She laid on her back, eyes still shut, feeling the night breeze cooling her damp skin.She woke up bathing with her own sweat as she forgot to leave her window ajar again for the nth time.She lay there still as a rock, trying so hard to maintain her drowsiness and go back to sleep again. It is too early, she thought. She could even hear Glinda’s snores downstairs.The gentle air that rustles the leaves of tall trees that surrounds their house lulled her back to sleep. But about a couple of minutes in, she realized she is about to have another one of those vivid dreams. Those dreams where everything seems surreal but she is fully aware that what she sees is not real.Elinor could not count the times she’s had a dream like this one. And every time, she always finds herself standing on top of a hill, overlooking a clearing of a forest. As always, the moon in her dream was in its fullest form, and not a single supernatural beings are about except for this one lonely-looking werewolf who sits at the center of the clearing, bloody eyes directed at the full moon.The wolf howled as the full moon showed itself from the clouds that cover it. Like a distant memory she had been constantly reminded of, Elinor guessed the exact moment the lone werewolf would howl. Again, it howls four times.As much as Elinor wants to go downhill and closely watch the wolf, she cannot move her feet. Like her previous state, she is stuck there, literally rooted to the ground. Daffodils are growing right through the skin of her feet.She listened to the howling wolf who seemed to be in so much pain. The sound of someone who got betrayed, someone who is deeply wounded, is what she can construe of its scream.There is just something about this dream that she could not really understand. The dream was so vivid, yet by the time she awakes, she could hardly explain the details of it, only the fragments remain stuck in her mind—the full moon, a werewolf, a flower.She had been dreaming of it very often, yet why can’t she memorize it like the back of her hand?Elinor finally woke up. The sun is just beginning to descend which is still a bit too early for her. She was freezing from the wind that had gone very cold, the hairs stood up on the back of her neck, and her teeth chattered. She went into a sitting position and aim to shut her window that is now wide open all the while yawning and shaking from the chills she got from the last gust of wind before she finally closes her window.The dream was almost completely out of her mind, but she catches it before her mind entirely erases it fast. She’s had it again. It was the third time this week that she dreamed of the wolf. And again, she woke up in a daze, trying to make some sense of the fragments left of the recurring dream.Ah, this is getting bothersome, Elinor murmured to herself.She tried to recall the exact order of her dream, but it only made her frustrated for she could not, for the life of her, remember the dream despite great effort.The dream is just like a word that sits on the tip of her tongue she could only get so close to guessing it but could never exactly figure it out.Ah, to hell with it. Maybe I should start sleeping with a pen and paper in hand. Or maybe I should learn to write whilst dreaming as well. The impatient voice inside her head sarcastically suggested. Elinor could only exhale through her nose.Elinor changed into a yellow dress and went downstairs to find Glinda, her mum, making herself some tea in their humble kitchen that was lit by yellow lamps and filled with green plants that crawls in the cream-colored walls. Elinor’s eyes were quick to spot a basket filled with foods that Elinor estimated to last up to three days.“Mum? What’s that basket for? You going somewhere?” Elinor fired questions. She walked toward her mother who was now sipping on a thistle teacup that had fancy and elegant imprints of rosemary and red berries on its center.“Ah, yes. But fret not, I won’t be long.” Her mum replied, gracefully placing the teacup on its saucer that is just as fancy as the cup.“How long exactly? I can see that you are bringing food with you. You never bring a basket of food with you, Ma.”It was not the first time her mum was out somewhere in the village. In fact, in the past few weeks, Glinda had left the cabin a couple of times, which is something new for Elinor. However, her mum would always return in no time. This time, however, Elinor guessed, her mother would take one day or more before her return.“Ah yes, but I’d only be gone for a day. You know, Tatiana called for me. She’s going out of town, I mean, we’re going out of town. She wants me to go with her. Who am I to refuse such an offer?” Her mum explained, laughing softly. Elinor could tell the excitement in Glinda’s voice. Her mum and Tatiana would probably be looking at the newest collection of teacups since both of them are quite fond of it. In fact, Glinda had a huge drawer filled with teacup sets placed in their living room.Tatiana is their Luna. And it is known to Elinor that the woman was indeed a good friend of Glinda. Elinor remembers the plenty of times Tatiana would come to visit their cabin, always with a gift in her hand.She was known to visit out of town every now and then, probably shopping for anything that appeals to her eyes. The woman was quite fond of Elinor, too. She has been sending her presents, which are mostly books, much to Elinor’s delight.But one thing seems strange. Her mum never left the house this often, let alone be gone for a day, leaving Elinor by herself.Now that she thinks of it, this is the first time she’s left alone in their cabin.Elinor doesn’t know how to feel about it. Though she is not upset, nor was she glad. Things are changing, of that she is certain. Glinda had become less protective of her. Yesterday, and the day before that, Glinda bought her new clothes she could wear outside during day time. Her mum used to tag along, never letting her take walks alone, but the last time she asked to go outside and read, Glinda only advised her to never wander too far distance.Elinor figured that maybe things are changing, and maybe she was just in the process of adjusting to the new rules.“You’re leaving me alone for the first time,” Elinor stated.“Oh, dear. These past weeks, I just realized that I should be more… permissive of you. Look at you, you’re about to turn seventeen next month. You should no longer lock yourself in your room and spent plenty of your time reading.” Glinda uttered. To Elinor, her mother sounds nothing like she once did before.It’s not that her mother had been very strict with her to a point that she does not have any freedom to do things she enjoyed at all. She was just against Elinor being left all alone, especially in the outdoors.To make the long story short, Glinda was very protective of her. Her safety is Glinda’s number one concern, and Elinor was by no means against it. She totally understands why Glinda would suggest she stay inside their house.And honestly, Elinor does not like the outdoors that much. She was not the adventurer type of person. She is more of a reclusive type and enjoys more without the company of others. All those years, she became used to staying inside, doing cooking lessons, and reading books. It’s her own way of having fun.“I have been guilty. I think I’ve wronged you somehow.” Glinda added, frowning as she sips her tea.“Wronged me? In what way, Ma?” she asked, a chuckle escaping her lips as she took the seat opposite from her mother. She crossed her arms and looks at Glinda who was finishing her tea and was also looking right at her.“You have not made a single friend. Oh, you poor soul.” Glinda said which made Elinor chortle.“I have Bonnie.” Elinor corrected. Her mother must have forgotten about her old friend who, just like her, was very introverted. This has not been the first time her mother forgot her only friend, Bonnie. She cannot blame her mother though; Bonnie is such a wallflower.Her mother’s eyes widen with realization, “Right. Bonnie. That friend of yours had never spoken a word to me.” Elinor laughed.“Still, you have to meet more people. You can drag Bonnie with you, that kid had no social life. The two of you should go out there and live a little.” Her mother further added.“Is this your way for me to find my mate?” Elinor could no longer hold herself from asking.“Yes, Elinor. Soon, you’ll be at the right age to marry. I want to see you out there with friends, laughing, and having the best time, and not here where you do the same monotonous routine of eating, reading, and sleeping. I reckon you must have found your life in this house dull and tiring.” Glinda said.Elinor leaned back, letting the words of her mother sinks in. However, Elinor presumed that Glinda was projecting what seemed to be her view of life. What Glinda had just said, Elinor believed it was not directed to her for she never finds her life in this cabin dull. Or does she?But your mother does find it dull. A small voice in her head whispered. Elinor totally understands. She may not find her life in the cabin as wearisome but to her mum? Elinor does not know for sure. Instead of pointing it out, Elinor just let out a smile and decided to take her mother’s advice to go out and socialize.Fine. I guess it is about time to step out of my comfort zone.Later that night, Elinor walked Glinda to their entrance. She handed the basket to her mother and kissed her left cheek goodbye. “I shall return tomorrow night,” said Glinda. Elinor nodded with a small smile on her lips.Glinda turned and started walking into the dark pathways lined by tall trees, the lamp on her hand glowed a bright yellow light that illuminated the dark.Elinor stood beside their entrance, her eyes fixed on Glinda’s cloaked figure until it became very small, and the light from her lamp become very faint.She sauntered back to their house. Now left alone for the first time, Elinor realized that her mother may have knocked some sense out of her fogged brain, that has been so used to her daily routine. She stood at their doorway and scanned the room.Somehow, it doesn’t look the same, but it is not different as well. Looking at every corner of their house reminds her of the days of her childhood. More so, it reminds her of the routine she had ever since. She had gotten so used to it that she no longer want to try something new. That she may have lived denying the fact that she wants to explore the outside.Do you want to spend your life doing the same mind-numbing routine? Elinor shakes her head in disapproval.Mother was right. The life I had was indeed dull. Elinor thought to herself as everything slowly dawned on her.Much like the recurring dream she had. Nothing was new. It followed the same, old pattern and repeat itself over and over again. And the small part of her refused to live on a never-ending loop.At that moment, Elinor just realized how much she wanted things to change.When Soulmates Eyes MeetElinor stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her gaze trailed down the emerald dress she was wearing that went past below her knees. A black cloak was dangling on her right arm. She held a book in her hand, which for her, is a must-have when venturing outside.She looked very neat regardless of her red hair being let down, with some strands freely cascading down her shoulders. For a moment, she almost wanted to tie her hair up into a bun but decided to just leave it as is. Her hair was just way past her shoulders, totally manageable.Glinda had told her it is quite windy outside. And so, she tucked her hair in the back of her ears and secured it with a hair clip made of pearls.Earlier, Glinda had just arrived from outside of the town. After having some breakfast together, Glinda went to her chamber, while Elinor went upstairs to change into her outdoor clothing.She gave her reflection a final look before she picked up her empty basket and headed downstairs
The Scarred AdmirerColin never really cared to go to such lengths in order to let someone know of his feelings. Yes, he had liked someone before Elinor came to view.Some of the ladies he liked were friends with his cousins. They used to bring their friends with them to their estate, and Colin, who always roamed around like a ghost, would set his eyes on a lady that stirs something inside him. A crush, as one would describe it.However, Colin was not blind nor deaf to the rumors that go around the entire land of Ashmore. While his siblings and cousins do their best at shutting down rumors that put him in a bad light, they can still hear the echoes of it even now. It is almost felt by him that he is even slowly accepting it. Not because it is true. God, no.He is not a beast, like what few people would describe him. No, he is not a cursed child. And above all, he is capable of love.It is funny when you try to think of it. How two-faced a creature is. And even funny when some of them
Her FamilyAs the two of them were standing behind the pub, eyes locked, Colin was the first one to look away. She could hear his heavy breathing as if he had been holding his breath the entire time. And to her surprise, Elinor found out that she has been doing the same.She lowered her gaze onto his broad shoulder, realizing she had to breathe or else she might faint.A strong wind blew past them, her cloak danced and her hair exploded. Her hair clip has now become loose, so she gathered her hair in her fist, and while doing so, she caught him looking at her, again.For some reason, the way he looks at her makes her feel like she’s the most beautiful person to ever exist. Or maybe, she was just imagining things, maybe she’s insane for thinking that. Maybe not.She never thinks of herself as beautiful. But Colin apparently changed that.Another wind stirs the place, this time, a violent one. Elinor turned her head to see Bonnie at the far side of the open area, walking towards them.“
Portrait and FlowerTo say that Colin’s world stopped at that moment was an understatement. If Colin was able to voice out one word just a second ago, now he couldn’t seem to find his voice. He was shocked to the bone.“I have told you all this time about how you got a scar on your face. And I was not lying when I told you that he,” His father motioned his head to the corner of the room where a skull pierced by a sword was displayed. “…attacked our estate and avenged his left eye that I gouged out of him.”“Well, I guessed we did lie,” his father corrected.“That rascal did not only leave your face forever scarred, but he also killed you when you were only one. And that’s all because I gouged his eye out. But I admit though, I went so far. I shouldn’t have messed with him. If only I can turn back the time, Colin, I wouldn’t have done it.” His father regretful voice echoed.“So we did just what every desperate parent would do at such a desperate moment. I crossed the line. I was the on
Reinvented DreamsShe had it again the sixth time around.The recurring dream that she knew all too well yet she could not recall for some unknown reasonHer hair was being blown by the cold night air, strands twisting with each other, dancing mid-air, as she stands on top of a hill looking over a vast clearing of a forest.She watched the werewolf, his back hunched over, as it waited for the full moon to show itself. And then, when the clouds get out of their way to reveal the fullest moon, the werewolf went into its howling position.Again, it howled five times. It sounded as lonely and as hurt as it did from her previous dream.Elinor watched as the dream is repeating itself again.The werewolf stood on all fours, unmoving. He was staring right at the moon as if his eyes were glued to it. The last howl was her cue. At any moment now, she would awake feeling disoriented and dazy.She counted the remaining seconds silently in her head.One…Two…Three—“Elinor.” A quiet, raspy voice
The CourtshipThey stood in the lobby in awkward silence. What Yves said rendered them speechless.Ah! Bloody hell. He uttered a curse in his mind. Yves did not have to say that, really. Now, he does not know whether to hide his face in shame or to smile and pretend they did not just hear Yves introducing herself as Elinor’s future sister-in-law, suggesting that they will marry each other soon.“Can you walk me through your estate’s garden?”Colin was relieved that Elinor broke the silence between them. And even more so, he was glad that Elinor made the awkward atmosphere surrounding them disappear by asking him that.“It is a pleasure,” He said, almost offering his elbow for her to link her arms around but Colin remembered she was not a sister nor a cousin of him, and the act, he figured, was done if both of them know each other very well.At that point, he was reminded that he and Elinor were not that acquainted yet. They just met. But he makes it his goal to get to know this lady w
JewelsElinor’s eyes were busy scanning the hand-crafted jewelry that Colin had laid on his study table earlier when she heard him grunt as if he was in pain or had some personal business to attend to. She tore her eyes away from the jewelry and shot him a stare.“Are you alright?” she asked when Colin stood up from sitting at the edge of his bed looking unwell. His ears, she noticed, became blushed. He started clearing his throat, facing his back to her, avoiding her stare.“Yes, I—uh I will go get you anything, drinks? tea?” He said while still facing his back to her.Elinor’s forehead creased with confusion, but then she nodded her head and said, “A tea would be fine.”Colin rushed outside, he vanished so fast that it made her think he could not wait to get out of there.He seemed fine just minutes ago when he lay open the velvet boxes of the jewelry to show her. Maybe Elinor was so preoccupied that she missed something that could be the reason why Colin is suddenly acting like tha
MourningShe could not get close to her because her knees had become so weak that she dropped to the floor. She was still in the doorway, kneeling, her hands clutching her chest. The pain she felt was so heavy that she thought she would suffocate to death.It felt as though the time stood still.Everything stopped. Her world stopped turning. Flashes of her moments with her mother played in her head.“No! No!” She screamed, crawling to where her mother was. Her face was wet with tears, her cries were full of pain.When she finally reached her mother, Elinor could not take to look at her pale face. She shut her eyes and tightly embraced her mother in her arms. She wanted to scream in pain but there was no sound escaping her mouth as if she had gone mute, or her voice had been taken from her. The veins in her neck looked like it was about to pop from screaming in silence.What is she supposed to do with her life now that her mother is gone?Things are never going to be the same again and