memories like a ghost [open][westmorland]

She ran, pushing hard even though her legs protested, even though her mind begged her to stop, but her heart wouldn’t let her. She raced like the wind, long locks of mahogany flying around her. Wide eyes of sapphire blue glittered with tears as she ran, reaching out a hand slowly to try and grab the arm of the man in front of her. “Please don’t!” she begged him, tears streaking her cheeks as she tried to drag in a breath that would heal the gaping wound in her heart. She’d stopped running, but her heart and breathing was still off, racing a mile a minute as the shadowed face of the man turned towards her, a cruel smile coloring his face even as she looked up at him with huge, pleading eyes. Not a word was spoken, they just stared at each other and suddenly, he pulled away from her taking the arm of a tall beauty and leaving her behind like she was nothing. Falling to her knees, she covered her face and weep openly, a heart wrenching sob breaking from her. It didn’t move the man; he didn’t even look at her one last time as he walked away.

She sat up forcefully, throwing her blankets away from her as she leaned forward, elbows on her legs and hands holding either side of her head. Anila’s heart was thundering in her chest and she felt that old ache, that ache she thought she’d put behind her, but apparently not. It would never leave her and every time she think it’s gone it comes back with such force that it takes away her will to keep moving forward to become a stronger person. Shutting azure eyes once more, Ani took a deep, steadying breath and opened them once more to glance around her room with its pale pastel green walls and white and brown accents. Right there in front of her, hanging over her dress was that picture, the one she just couldn’t get rid of; the one of him, looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered. Anila remember every detail of that day. After hours of passion, she’d sat at her easel naked, wrapped in a blanket from the bed, watching him with just that sheet over his lap, looking at her with so much love, her heart nearly burst. She wanted that back so badly.

Shaking her head, she rose from her bed and moved towards her dresser. Anila had work, this was not something she should be worrying about right now and so, she grabbed her work clothes and rushed into her bathroom to take the quickest shower of her life. Ani was behind, she knew that and she was bent and prepared not to look at the clock to confirm her fears of just how behind she was today. Toweling dry, she dressed as quickly as she dared in my black hose, skirt and white blouse, throwing her hair up into a bun. She worked carefully on her make-up, keeping it light, but still allowing herself to look like the stunner so many people believed that she was. Taking one last look at herself in the full length mirror, Anila took a deep breath and released it on a sigh. What would he think of her now? She was a very different person than she had been in high school. Ani was bitter and angry now, playing with hearts like they were the simplest of toys. Reaching up a shaky hand, she tucked her bangs behind her ear and put a bright, but rather fake smile on her face.

Rushing out the door was no easy thing with the shows she was wearing. This place that she worked at? They were expected to look as attractive as they possibly could. Not that she wanted people to look at her just for her looks or anything, if they hadn’t paid so well, Ani never would have taken the job, but the money? It was too good to pass up. Letting out another sigh, she hopped into my car, pulled out and drove to work with that horrible nightmare still swarming to the front of her mind. There was no shaking it so she knew she’d have to be on her guard, keep that smile plastered to her face at all costs and not let anyone see what was bothering her. No one had a right to know what things ate at her soul. Snorting out a humorless laugh, Anila pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of her car, rushing into the restaurant and finally glanced at the clock. Good, she wasn’t late, she was right on time. Smirking to herself in satisfaction, she headed back to the break room to put her stuff in her locker.

Upon entering the actual work space, she walked over to the hostess and asked her which section was mine today. She told Ani with and easy gesture of her hand and said that there was one table that hadn’t been waited on yet because they knew she was going to be there any minute and so, with a smile on her face, Anila walked towards the table, pad of paper in her hand and pen ready to take down whatever it was that they wanted to order. This was so natural to her now, almost as natural as holding a paint brush in her hands. Still, it would never be what she wanted most in life, right now it was just a stepping stone towards something greater. Taking one last deep breath Anila arrived to the side to the side of the table and without really giving the person her full, unaverted gaze, she looked just to the side of their head, before speaking, “Good afternoon. My name is Anila and I’ll be your server this afternoon. What can I get you to drink? Perhaps an appetizer?” These lines, she knew them all too well.

• complete: yes • muse: amazing • comments: none • word count: 1002
[style=font-family: times; letter-spacing: 1px; font-size: 15px; color: #9966cc;]ANILA VALKYRIE MYSTRAL