Athena
Her bare feet glided along the smooth cobblestone, the baby blue cotton nightgown flowing around her as she made her way down the quiet streets.
Church bells in the distance rangout the midnight hour. Moonlight fell upon her as the clouds blew past, opening and closing the night sky like drapes.
Callia began humming as she strolled along the cobblestones, her voice becoming ever so slightly louder as she approached her destination. The light breeze blowing her long wavy dark locks behind her.
Reaching her destination she stepped gently on to the cool green grass that surrounded the statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of Wisdom. Callia’s voice rose as she sang.
Upon waking in her dormitory the next morning Callia was met with a slew of messages on her phone. All asking ‘Is this you?’ followed by a poorly lit shaky video of a woman in a nightgown singing in front of the statue of Athena, in the open moonlight amphitheater.
Callia put her phone down, pulled up her nightgown a bit and looked at the bottom of her dirt streaked feet.
“Not again.” she sighed.
Tea?
The sun sank into the horizon as the twilight hour began, Alice stood full of apprehension staring up at the century old Victorian home. With its large windows reflecting the last bit of the setting sun.
How grand and tall the house felt as she approached the wrapped porch enclosed with white pillars, her outstretched finger pushing the cold, smooth cream colored doorbell. Alice straightened her clothes while the distant chimes could be heard past the large ornate oak door that stood before her.
She had promised her mother that she would write and ask her great aunt Wilma, if she could join her one evening for tea, while she was scouting for schools around the New Orleans area.
The door opened to reveal an older lady dressed in a maids uniform. ”Yes?” she asked.
Alice cleared her throat, “I’m Alice, Wilma’s great niece. She’s expecting me for tea.”
The maid nodded and escorted her into the lavish home. Being led into the parlor she was directed to take a seat next to a small round table. Alice sat and took in the room with its tall windows, array of potted plants, paintings and area rugs.
The colors in the room bleed into each other as the room was lit by various glass lamps that were scattered throughout. An elderly lady dressed in a light flowing dress of peach, topped off with a black knitted shawl and using a cane to assist her, glided into the parlor taking the seat opposite Alice.
“Hello my dear.” she said in a soft voice. The maid then entered carrying a tray with a silver teapot, and matching cups and saucers.
She set it down on the small round table and poured each of them a cup. Alice took a sip from the silver tea cup and felt herself slip away into an unknown void.
The lights in the room dimmed, she struggled to keep her eyes open and focused on her great aunt Wilma who had changed somehow now looking younger.
Alice faded into her mind trying to remember what Wilma had looked like only a few moments ago. As Alice’s eyes shut the face of a much younger woman approached her saying.
“Don’t fight it, just sleep now.”
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