Young Writers Society

Light in the Clouds

Anger, hurt, hatred, pain

Bitterness, vengeance, mocking rain

Sorrow, betrayal, pitiless tears

And now with this love I begin to fear

Through the thunder and rain can you hear my cries?

O rescue me now from man’s terrible lies!

Rintide watched the smoke curling up from the near distance, the smoke seemingly entranced in its star-struck waltz across the potentially serene sunset. Rintide's glittering eyes narrowed in a last attempt to withhold bitter tears. Gone, it was all gone, her family, her homeland, all remnants of her old life. She would never again behold the magnificent trees with their idyllic bodies and forlorn leaves. She would never know if her father had changed his mind about her after her exile.

“Rintide!” cried Alrioth behind her and he sprinted after her. Gasping to catch his breath, Alrioth smiled sheepishly as he halted to see her staring dejectedly at the derisive smoke, mocking her with its every coil into the clouded sky. His smile, the crooning smile that said everything was going to be alright, fell as he placed an arm around her shoulders and watched a solitary tear seep from her eye, gleaming in the faint light of evening as it weaved its intricate path down her pale cheek.

In a flawless world

That I shall never know

I would never be forced

To brave this life alone

Rintide turned away from him, tensing as she willed her shoulders not to shake through bitter sobs.

Alrioth grasped her arm and turned her to face him. “Rintide, don’t turn away. Please speak with me.” His eyes begged her, pleaded with her to share her pain, allow him to bear her burden for the pain in her eyes tore at his heart.

“Alrioth…” croaked Rintide as she stood there for a moment, staring hollowly at him. Her face contorting with grief, she buried her head in his shoulder, pounding her fists against his chest, a hurting desperation surmounting her self-control.

“I can’t do this, Alrioth. They’re gone, all gone. I have nothing left but my own pitiful self. I cannot suffer this storm; I cannot stand amid this tempest. Who am I that I now fear that I am frightened?” She wept, stilling her fists in an effort to conceal her tear-streaked face and glistening, gold-silver eyes.

Alrioth gazed down at her, a chaste sympathy pooling behind his ivory eyes. He enveloped his friend in his comforting arms and stroked her long, brown hair as if she were a child, too afraid to face the night. “Do not shame your tears, Rintide. Even you must sometimes confide in others.”

When I fear the night

Find myself alone

Someone would always know

I cannot stand on my own

“I am here…” Alrioth whispered, “There is no need to be afraid.”

She whimpered, “Don’t leave me.”

“Never.”

“Or I think my heart shall break again.”

He smiled, “Don’t flee from me.”

“I shall not.”

“Or I’ll have to chase you down again.”

Rintide lifted her head from his shoulder and looked up into his eyes, something inside of her trembling.

Tears borne of sorrow

Tears borne of joy

You’re the first to see past

This fatal ploy

“I am sick of pretending everything is alright. I’m sick of pretending I’m invincible. I can’t do this on my own, Alrioth. I’m tired of pretending I can. No one’s ever been there; there’s never been anywhere to turn. And now when I must, it is painful to admit that I… that I.” Rintide whispered until her voice broke with a fearful trepidation

Alrioth gripped her shoulders and shook her, his eyes widening with fervor. “Then stop pretending, Rintide, stop pretending you’re someone you’re not!”

“What if I fall?” she whimpered.

“I will pull you back up again.”

“What if I break?” she croaked.

“I will bind your wounds.”

“What if I drown, Alrioth?”

He smiled, “You can’t; I’m still holding your hand.”

And now it rains

Tears left unshed

I am frightened for I see

Darker clouds ahead

“The sun is concealed by the treacherous clouds. It seems such trials shall never fade.” Rintide whispered, drawing a ragged breath and gnawing on her lower lip. “Alrioth, how long before the sun shines again?”

“There are always breaches in the darkest cloud and that is when the sun shines the brightest, to give you just enough hope, just enough light to barely endure the darkest night. Sometimes you have to walk in the dark, Rintide, sometimes you cannot see the way, but nevertheless, you have to follow it.” Alrioth smiled at the remorseful look on Rintide’s face, “But you don’t have to walk alone.”

A ghost of a smile played upon Rintide’s face and Alrioth watched a miracle at work as the corners of her mouth lifted into a grateful, wholehearted smile. It was the first time he had ever seen a smile light her face, vanquishing from existence the grim shadows that had lurked behind her expression for far too long. Rintide laid her head against his chest.

“Why, isn't this a miraculous day! I got you to smile at me!" Alrioth teased and he chuckled.

Rintide laughed softly, lightly. He had never heard such a jovial sound escape her lips, “Knowing you, I don't think it will be the last,” she sighed.

On every night, there is a moon

Behind every cloud, the sun does loom

In every shadow, compassion may gleam

Past every blindfold, lie innocent dreams

Beneath a crushed soul, hope flickers weakly

Hidden in a broken heart, longing speaks meekly

Within every eye, a single tear cries

Embedded in every gentle heart

See the countenance of a hero arise

~

half poem, half story... a little strange

I had to write a piece for this writing club and this is what came.

Suggestions would be welcomed