Fearless on my Breath

AN: Challenge #2
'Teardrop' by Massive Attack. Respond.

This one is wide open! Just listen to the song and write something in response to the music.

This one is really about letting someone else's art inspire you to something! So go forth and conquer my friend!

Sitting softly on the cool dew tipped grass, she watches the sun rising in the ambient sky. The beautiful colours bringing with it a calm and excitement that makes her whole body ache with wonder. She has been watching the sunrise everyday for as long as she can remember. It is her time of the day, it is when she connects with something other than herself. The fire of the sun ignites a fire within her.

She doesn't realise she is being watched by the staff, she never feels their eyes penetrating her back. She looks up at the sky, the darkness on one side, the light fighting against the darkness taking ever more of the sky. She smiles as she witnesses this epic battle.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

She is outside, the wind playfully tugging at her hair. She feels a hand on hers and she looks at the owner of the hand. Her face lights up as a smile begins to take hold; she came. The hand slightly tightens its grip on hers making her heart beat in time with the pressure and release of the delicate hand. The woman holding her hand smiles in return, shining brighter than the sun in her memory. The women sit together, talking, dreaming, they watch the sun rise.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

She lowers her head and looks at her pale hands nestled in her lap. A tear escapes from her eyes and runs freely over her cheek. The smile from bygone days still lingers around the edges of her mouth. Slowly she raises her head again and watches as the sun continues it's gallant journey higher into the sky. She imagines the fire burning, lighting the path ahead. The sun winks at her, she lowers her eyes a little in acknowledgement.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

The woman says she has to go away for a while. She looks at the other woman, her eyes pleading, begging, screaming not to be left alone. Her face is understanding and she encourages the other woman to continue. The woman explains more about the impending separation, recounting a story from her past and how this story is important now. She listens carefully but is afraid to speak, lest her voice give away her true feelings. The woman says goodbye, hugs her and wishes her well. The woman is gone. She sits alone.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

Another tear escapes from her eye, this time the sun dries the tear as it makes its escape. She raises her eyes and silently thanks the sun for its kindness. Slowly she stands up. It is time now.
She stands still a moment, watching the sun rise higher still, then she takes one step and then another.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

The mirror doesn't lie, it doesn't know how to. Instead it remains, ready to tell the viewer the truth. The mirror shows no remorse as it doesn't understand that there is more to a reflection than what one sees. The mirror waits for her.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

Step after step she makes her way back inside, bidding a fearful goodbye to her friendly sun. She enters the building and feels the coldness surround her but she keeps walking to her room. She still marvelled at the thought it was "her room". How many others had thought the same thing before her? She passes some staff, they ignore her, while she keeps her steady pace and walks towards her room.
She finally reaches her door and slides her hand over the doorknob, feeling the cold steel beneath her small soft hands. The door opens at her touch and she walks into her room, glancing at the mirror covered in fabric before walking to her favourite chair by the window. She could no longer see the sun directly, but she could see the effect of the sun waking up the world. She watched the world wake, ignoring the mirror.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

The mirror shrieks as the cracks begin to chase each other. Suddenly the pieces are lying at her feet, the mirror stops shrieking and lays on the ground in silence. She stares at the remains wondering why the reflection was as broken as the glass. The confession dances around her subconscious, never letting her grab it entirely, merely playing with her. She sighs, another tear rolls sedately down her cheek, as she picks up the broken pieces.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

The world has woken up now and she realises that she needs to wake up as well. She stands and regretfully turns her back on the window. She steps lightly on the carpet over to the hidden mirror, takes a corner of the material, which she draped over it upon her arrival, and pulls. The material falls away and glides to the floor; more debris at her feet.
She keeps her eyes downcast as the fear rises inside her, yet she remains outwardly calm. She raises her head then lifts her eyes to look in the mirror. The shock makes her stumble a little. Stumbling a little.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.
thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.

She sees herself in the mirror. There is nothing horrible there, the lies she had told herself fall away like the broken glass of her memories. The tears fall freely down her cheeks as she stares at the woman in the mirror. The woman smiles at her and reaches out her hand. Gasping she tries to reach the woman, tries to bring the woman back to her.
Black flowers blossom at the edge of her vision as she finally touches the woman. Her heart explodes with joy, her breath is fearlessly calm and her eyes shine from the fire within. She is complete.

thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump. thump-thump thump-thump.