Empty Arms and Lonely Graves

Hotaru · 08-30-2012, 03:20 PM

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Word Count → 000

Dated August, 28th

Claps of thunder crossed the sky, sounding like drums as rain drops fell like tears from the clouds. Though summer was at it's end, all Hotaru could feel was the cold rain seeping into her summer coat and freezing her limbs. Mud stuck to her fur and coated her arms and legs. Even so, she wouldn't go inside, wouldn't relieve herself of the pain for the aesthetic comforts of a warm fire and soft fur.

Hotaru reached down again, scooping a large pile of wet earth away as she dug another hole. One more hole, one more grave to mar the backyard that she couldn't even see. Again and again, the female went for more mud, trying to dig the hole before the rain filled it again. Water streamed down Hotaru's cheeks as the falling rain threatened to break her heavy back. She didn't want to do this. Not again.

The day before, Aysun had passed away in her father's arm. Some disease had stricken the albino puppy, taking her forever from her mother's arms. But before departing, Aysun had passed the disease to her brother. Aiden had spent the night before coughing up blood and running a raging fever that slowly eroded at his body. After a long period of suffering, Aiden had followed his sister to an eternal sleep. Her little fire was extinguished.

Hotaru's body shook, her hands were freezing as she removed the last few inches of mud. Even though she couldn't see it, just a foot away was the marker for Aysun's grave. Hotaru reached over, feeling the wet bundle of leather that protected Aiden and his small wooden coffin. It took the grieving mother several tries to grab onto the box, her hands slippery with mud. Yet, she couldn't do it, she couldn't bury him. Hotaru brought the leather bound box close, rocking as she hugged it to her chest. Why? Why did they have to leave her? She had just buried Aysun the day before, so why did she have to bury Aiden as well?

Whimpering, Hotaru finally, placed the box into the hole that was already filling with water. Stiff movements brought the removed soil back into it's rightful position. Hotrau could hear the water slosh and knock against her son's coffin. Slowly, she worked, until the last bit of dirt rested atop the grave and a large stone had been placed on top of the loosely packed mud. No one would disturb the graves, not even the small bundles resting inside. Another clap of thunder rocketed across the sky and Hotaru let out a long mournful howl.

Quote by: Maurice Freehill

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