I have my heroine standing atop a cliff, the salt air filling her senses as she stares up at the moon–downing a bottle of gin. She cannot escape the damned voices she hears. No amount of alcohol will enable her to break free. She has no choice but to come to the realization that her life really has a purpose–NOW. Besides that the one she is sent to help isn’t going to let her get away with this pity party she is on for very long.
And NOW he has the arduous task of convincing her that the voices she is hearing in her head are real and that he is also. Only he has to be careful with when and how he reveals the latter. She already fears so many things, he knows that she would not know how to handle hearing the voice of a dead being who has a physical body that she can see and touch when some of these others leave her sleepless at night. At least NOW he can step in somewhat to silence them so she doesn’t become ill. Her emotions are fragile and he is fully aware that he must be careful at this point.
Psychologists were a regular part of her childhood, given that he didn’t have a clue as to block her from seeing his memories then, she saw what he had done and drew pictures of it. The psychologists all thought she was blaming her father for not being there for her and made him the villain–rather than her mother–and that is why she drew the violent pictures from the time she was five. Now it was up to the person who was following her and watching over her to change her perceptions of what was and what now is.
Their relationship began long before she was sent to boarding school. It began the day she was born. She could see and hear him even though he could not leave his crypt. But he cared for her in her dream realm–where sunlight didn’t hurt him. He taught her about History, Greek Mythology, numbers and languages, but she liked watching the birds. By the age of 10 she was called a prodigy and her musical skills developed immensely. He thought he had gone mad from being unable to feed–but no…He would find out twenty-three years later that not only was she real, but she thought she imagined him all those years also. She never remembers a face–only his shoes and she keeps looking at shoes. Another thing that puzzles him is that the closer they become, the less he is affected by his curse. However, she seems to become more frail as time progresses and they both get sucked into another realm at various points in this story.
And that’s just for starters…
My life is definitely changing. I know I’m headed in a new direction as I evolve over time–then again, it’s a constant process, right? I’m glad that I don’t have to worry over what happened before or what will happen tomorrow. Just as change enters into my life, so it enters into the lives of my characters. To say that a person can totally disassociate from their characters doesn’t seem to ring true with me. I put my sons in a few characters. I’ll see where the ride takes me. It is as I said in my title, all I need is NOW. This moment is what defines my day–not yesterday and certainly not tomorrow.
The person I once was is dead so I had to have a bit of a “memorial” for her. I know now that I can survive anything–and have for the most part. It is for that reason, I do not look for my validation from others. I find that when I am up on my mountain, taking in the air and looking for miles into the horizon to figure out where I should go next. However, I don’t worry about it. I know things will fall into place. What I need comes to me. Just like with people I know, what they need comes to them–and if I can help them along a bit–I do so gladly. That is one part of me that never changes…I am always trying to be “there” for those that need me and I have come across many, many good people in the past two and a half years that I am truly grateful for.
However there is one thing that never changes about me. I stay behind and follow tracks. I never run ahead. I just feel safer that way so it is all fine. I think it is better to finish the course and feel comfortable than to make a race of it and wipe out. I take the time to see, smell, hear and touch…I also try new food once in a while now.
And when I stress, I meditate upon things and get centered. If still uneasy, I change my latitude and it miraculously changes my attitude into one of total gratitude–especially when by a body of water or a river. I love the sound of water lapping on shore or the sounds of a river, spring or creek flowing! I also love watching and listening to birds. Combine that with a good breeze blowing through the trees and I’m in heaven.
Sometimes I play in the rain, too. You can think I’m crazy if you like, but I will not let the kid in me die. I am of the opinion that once a person lets the kid inside of himself/herself die, then there is absolutely no joy in life. With no joy, there is no life and anyone who has a problem with someone who is enjoying their life and constantly tries to change that person has a mental problem. That is my take on that matter. Anyway, if there is no thunder, that means there is no lightning. I haven’t been stricken dead yet either so I guess I know what I am doing to some extent.
Nothing beats being outside-even in the rain. Becoming one with that water and breathing that fresh, clean smell afterward is more invigorating than a lot of things to me. The rainbows that sometimes show up are the icing on the cake. I always have a dream about someone with a paint horse inside of a rainbow. He keeps talking and motioning for me to come his way and then it is almost as if I am running a race to get there. I get close but he moves just far enough back to keep me curious–and trying to catch up. I wrote about that on another part of the blog here…
Other than that, I’m getting ready to get other stuff. I really feel that it’s time to put in a jewelry order and a mind is a horrible thing to make up! Have a great weekend!
The Haunted Pen 