Subscribe To
This Site
Short Fiction - Dialogue With Snakes pg 10[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Outside, the driver stood with Al and Khala, smoking a cigarette and exhaling slow clouds from between his lips. "Al," said Khala eventually, "This is crazy. She's probably back at the motel by now." "Go back if you want," said Al, never taking his eyes off the woods. "I'm staying right here." Khala sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Well, I'm going back in the bus. At least I'll be warm if not happy." She turned. Al watched her climb into the bus, deciding not to rush to comfort her. Everything was so complicated now. Khala, and Kit - and now Kit disappearing. If Kit was hurt, or scared and needed him, what would he do? Then, there was movement ahead on the line of trees. The forest seemed to glisten for a moment, tinselled, silver and glittering colours in the darkness. Kit, in the same clothes she'd been wearing earlier, but radiant, stepped out of the trees. Al walked forward quickly, drawn by the glow on Kit's face. She was beautiful, but somehow insubstantial, her red hair floating loose over her shoulders like he'd only seen it normally when they made love. He ran forward, but stopped before touching her. The thought entered his head that somehow, she wasn't really there. "Kit," he said, "I was worried sick." She laughed, bright and resonant like a shower of silver, and when she spoke, she spoke just for him. "I know. But I think it was misplaced. Al, do you love me?" "I love you, Kit," he said and meant it. Now, and always, he saw his feelings mapped out like a network of cracks on a desert floor. "I love you." "What do you want then? How do I fit into your life?" He didn't answer. She looked beyond him, nodded to Khala standing in the doorway of the bus. "You see?" she said. "Al. I came to say goodbye." He understood, without knowing what he was understanding, and he fought his comprehension with fear. What had happened? Only a few hours before, he had sat beside Kit on the bus under the pretence of checking some cues, touching her hair, Khala asleep far ahead in her seat. "Kit, I love you," he said quietly, earnestly. "I've got to stay with Khala, but that doesn't mean things can't be between us like they were before. Trust me. In time, we'll both understand what we want. Please, Kit." He held out his hand, but she only smiled. "No, Al," said Kit. "For right or for wrong, I've made my decision. I've gone too long making only partial choices. It's time for compromises to end. I'm going into the Forest, and I'm not coming back." Al reached out for her arm, but couldn't touch her. She was receding, even as she stood in front of him. "I came back to tell you you were never enough. I came back to tell you you weren't enough for me. To hold me back. To push me on. You were never enough. I'm happy now. I don't know if you see but I am. I've found a place where Kit can finally be as she was meant to be, as she never could before. With you. With anyone. On her own. I'm happy. I hope you see that." He didn't. How could he? She laughed again, kindly, and walked away, back into the forest, lighting the way before her with just the radiance of her face. Just for a moment, he thought she shimmered, like she was covered in glistening scales. "Kit, wait!" he called, and for a moment, she turned back. "The secrets of the world are all mine," she whispered. "And it was so easy, once I understood the things that should never have been hard. I hope you find a way to your own happiness someday. I wanted to share this, but one look at your face –" Then she was gone. back to jenstuff
|
