From "Edna's Longing"
Copyright 2006, 2010 Jae El Foster
“Disgusting!” she
fussed spitefully at herself. “Look at you! Look at yourself! You’re a
monster, Edna… you’re an old, horrible monster!”
Slapping her hand to
the mirror, she flung it to the floor and watched it shatter into hundreds of
tiny, sharp pieces. Now, tears filled her hollow eyes and she retreated to the
floor and onto her knees.
“Why?” she cried,
rocking her body gently as the tears began to flow. “Why has this happened to
me? What curse has been put on me to make me so… so hideous?” Sniffling
now, she gained control of herself and began to stand. “One day… just one day… That’s
all I ask. I want to be beautiful, just one more time… And then… and then I can
die…”
Laughing a bit at how
ridiculous the thought was, she shook her head sadly and smiled. She knew that
her day had passed… she would never be beautiful again. She had become a plump,
withered old woman, and she would die a plump, withered old woman. Nothing
would change that; nothing could. Time was an enemy to the old. It marked the
beginning of the end, and she knew that soon, her end would arrive. And when it
did, she would still be old and ugly.
“Come, Magnum,” she
said to the small brown Chihuahua that stood obediently by her feet. “It’s time
for bed now. Momma’s not feeling so good…”
The dog whimpered in
reply, shaking his tiny tail merrily. He lived for three things: meal time,
walk time, and bedtime. Bedtime was his favorite, as he knew that, first thing
in the morning, it would be meal time and walk time again. Hurriedly, he rushed
ahead of her to the bedroom, where he hopped atop the bed and prepared himself
for sleep.
“Lucky dog,” Edna
groaned, following along behind him. “Fifteen years old and he still looks like
he’s five…”
Hanging her robe from
the hook on the door, she yawned tiredly and climbed into the bed, falling
quickly asleep as Magnum snuggled up behind the crook of her legs.
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