The night went relatively smooth. Many would pin the night in the graveyard as a night plagued with nightmares. She didn’t get nightmares at her grandfather’s house though. Not even with the hole in the ceiling. Not with the moth-eaten curtain and blanket. Not even with the fading colors of the walls.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6wktm7YHy
She dreamt of her grandpa, kneeling in the well-trimmed grass, cleaning the tombstones. He told stories of God and the Goddess, heavily worshipped deity of an alternate reality. Marissa sat in the grass, watching him and listening to the story intently, in her younger kid's body. She smiled and asked questions, which she answered. Now that she was awake though, she couldn’t remember the questions off-hand. 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSGmkg2erb
Today, Mar had to clean up the house, but she would start with her room since that’s where she was sleeping. She couldn’t work if she didn’t sleep well. Sleep was essential. 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnnoQWZK8c
Webb took down the ruined curtains and unmade the bed, throwing the ruined fabric on the bed. Getting a broom, she swept up the room. Dust and debris flew in the hair, causing her to cough and grab her stomach from the heavy cough. Her nose ran as her allergies acted up. Needing to leave the room, she gathered the sheets and walked outside. The smell of fresh air and blooming flowers filled the air, quite the opposite of the musty room. She couldn’t help but smile and take in the sun. Even though the town was surrounded by fog, the village had beautiful weather. You could see the fog on the faint horizon. 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq3UaUIU6N
Carrying the sheets, she walked to a pillar and knelt down. Since they didn’t have garbage trucks to dispose of the garbage, they would typically burn most items. Marissa placed the fabrics on the pillar and lit the pile on fire with a match her grandfather kept relatively close.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW827Iwpmu
The smoke wafted in the air, leaving a very strong smell of wood burning, from the sheets.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eELji2SUv
“I hope you’re burning these items safely. Fires are a dangerous tool, Mari.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITqhzlcbRY
Marissa recognizes that tone. Jensen Hamilton. Her old friend and her ex-boyfriend. The two never broke it off because of hatred towards one another. They were just going a different path. He, working to provide for his mother. Marissa, exploring life. The two had very different ideologies. One wanted to settle down. One wanted to go out and live life.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUv4RDjlQP
“Is it, Mr. Hamilton? I think I’m quite aware of the dangerous property of fire.” She was then lifted in the air and hugged tightly. Black coal dust painted her skin. He smelled like labor and the mines.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHHpgNFlrB
“I missed you, Mari. God, I missed you. How have you’ve been? What was it like? Did you meet anyone special?” He was rambling about more questions but the lack of oxygen flowing through her brain because of the bear hug made her unable to breathe.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPOiVif5yt
“Can’t…breathe.” She said in between gasps and he dropped her. It wasn’t a far drop due to him not being much taller than her. “To answer your question, yes.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWXjCNtvxl
He grinned and looked at the burning pile. “It’s been forever. Centuries in dog years.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBdfoxxX3d
“Five times seven is not centuries.” 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7DklhfS6U
“35 years in cat years is centuries.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekC4h2rXDb
She snorted and looked hugged his arm. “If my house wasn’t so dilapidated, I’d offer you a shower.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjxPkGmD6k
Knitting brows in confusion, she looked at him. “What’s a shower?” Modernism typically didn’t play a big role in this role. She just shook her head and smirked. “Are you saying I smell? This is what hard work does? Smelliness.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrytoGgW7Oe
The two just teased each other and after a while, the two were sitting in comfortable silence. “How has your mom been?”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2ZqoXhNdM
“You know mom. ‘You need a suitable wife and give me grandbabies’…She thought you and I were going to make her grandbabies.” He looked to the horizon of well-polished headstones.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo3cTEIcpX
Marissa snorted. “Really? Well, that’s the equivalent of being in love with me. Is she still running the butcher shop? I suppose I should have food. This place is probably going to last a lot longer than I can without food. I have to hope that my Grandfather has money saved away. I don’t want to go to my parents.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnc5DzSF10
“Your parents never hated you, they miss you even. They just became more reclusive. More so than usual. But don’t worry about paying, most of the stores are honoring what you’re doing. Tom may be a bit difficult, along with a few of the older people. Saying it’s your fault for the death of your grandfather.” He raised his hand before she could interject. “It’s not. It’s not your fault. If he blamed you, you think he would have given you the place versus his son and mother-in-law?”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vDYzxBKcz
Marissa shrugged. “I suppose not. I’ll visit your mom though.”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbQXJxz5pC
“She’ll probably snare you with dinner, for memories and catching up. Now, do you need help with anything, Mari?”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yBnjrq4gW
“Unless you and your carpenter friends can fix up the house, no?”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwtvzVFoFr
“Sounds like an invitation. All I ask is for dinner. What are your plans for tonight?”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3cedTlQLA
“Getting some sheets for curtains and the bed?”370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IN0kViDwz
He beamed like a child seeing the dream bike he wanted for Christmas. “Ma has curtains and sheets. Come down for dinner.” 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT0IUANxwN
Before she could say no, he waved and walked away. She yelled at him but all she got was the crackling of the dying fire. She extinguished the fire and exhaled slowly. The ashes flew in the wind and she closed her eyes. Already, the town was excited to have her, granted Tom and his elderly posy. 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTfOnJOq46
Marissa looked in the distance where the dead were buried and saw a familiar apparition. She could see a smile, then the figure disappeared. “I love you too, Grandpappy.”
~~Author's Note~~370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXrDhL9Kas
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Sorry. It has been longer than two weeks. College, work, and overall life has been busy. Hopefully, it won't happen again and I'll have a better time management370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYvv75Y0Mb
