~ Place of Completion ~
Hills of rolling grass extended for miles, until suddenly they come to halting stop. Scathing rocks take over, descending vertically to the pounding waves upon waves below. Foaming water thrashes at the base of the hill-cliff, wearing away the essence and character of the once jagged rocks.Tears pour freely as I lie on the soft layers of grass. These threads of grass hold me to this place, for I am only a few paces away from a hundred metre drop into treacherously cold waters. How can a place so beautiful be on the edge of something so brutal? But it can, I reminded myself whilst weaving grass into gold that I could wear later, there is life in death and death in life.
Looking over my shoulder the blue stretched on forever; the sea and sky united through ages, like my mother and me. I instinctively touched my coral-sapphire necklace that had once belonged to her. Shuddering, I quickly let my eyes shut out any and all pain. I am at my place, away from him, nothing and no-one can harm me now.
Blinded, I could hear the waves, calmer now, sing softly to the patient hill. Proudly standing, it absorbed the seas praises. I could smell the fresh air, distant saltwater and warm grass, which had been touched by the sun, but most of all it smelt of freedom and clarity. Like all worries had been blown away, it felt like the only person who could control me was me.
A breeze released my hair from, its ties and the chestnut strands soared with the wind. Stems of grass tickled my skin as the breeze lifted them from their resting place. However, it did not feel cold it felt exhilarating, like taking your first mouthful of air. Through my eyelids I could feel, and almost see, the golden sunlight filter past me, like a spotlight.
All the harsh words and screamed blows seemed so far away. Blocked out. Gone. I was wrapped in figurative warmth, as if I was truly safe for the first time in my life. Wafts of tall grass could hide me, like a game of hide and seek. When the wind blew it would flatten the grass to reveal my hiding place. I would giggle and roll over into grass that was not so windswept.
Opening my eyes made me feel dizzy as the overpowering light stunned me. The first thing my eyes lay upon was a dark stain of grass that had not faded, even after all those years when her life was taken giving birth to another. Lying on my back I stared at the sky, a stray rabbit-shaped cloud floated towards the vast sea and the freedom beyond. It laughed at me mockingly for I was planted to the ground and could not simply soar off like it could.
The buffets of wind grew heavier as I rose, slowing stretching towards the sky. The air propelled me in the direction of my path onwards. The sea, although monstrous at the bottom tip of the Cliffside, swirled into glittering bliss that reached into the distance.
A demanding voice shattered the peace from beyond the grassy lands and snapped me back to reality. I must leave this place for now…
Drenched and sopping, I looked towards the dim sky and somewhere in its depths a spark of hope ignited. Now it is over the pain has stopped and he is finally gone perhaps I can move on like my mother would have wanted. The dark stain has been washed away and it was my time to let go. I was so close to the cliff edge when I held my arm out over the sloshing waters. The rain cheered me on as I slowly released a silver and blue chain from my fingertips. “Thank-you and goodbye,” I whispered while the metal links left my outstretched palm.
It fell and fell and fell until it landed with a splash I could not hear. My mothers necklace would drift off, cleansed from its spell, like I was, and maybe, one day, it may fall into the hands of another hopeful searching for a lifeline.
I finally feel whole in my place completion.
By (c) Rhiannon