The Unheard words of new writers...

	It would never have happened if I had not been late. I sobbed quietly to myself, my head buried in my soft palms. The morning air was cool and damp and a soothing breeze blew past me - a caring hand ruffling my hair. I stared at the blushing roses in front of the grave. Their fragrance filled the air and the dewdrops on their petals glistened in the sunlight. As I let my trembling hand touch the flowers, I felt myself grow heavy. I could feel the warmth of his protecting hands as I touched the roses kept for him. I knelt on the wet earth, clasping the grass growing that sprouted from the ground with my hands. "It's alright," I heard a familiar voice whisper to me. But I knew that it wasn't. I'd heard her voice right from that day. After all, why would she care? She rushed past all of us, she'd never waited, she'd never given us a second chance. No, she would never be able to comprehend how I felt. Should I say that she was as permanent as a world that never changed? That day is still vivid in my memory; perhaps, the only incident in my life that would remain with me, painfully, forever. - - - I remember the shouts, the screams and the turmoil on the bridge connecting the two lands, separated by the deep blue sea. I was running as fast as I could (which was pretty slow as I wasn't very athletic). He was close behind me, continually shouting, "Faster! I'll take care of it. Find a safe place to hide!" I'd almost reached the end of the bridge. I had but a few steps to take before I'd be safe. Ah! That was the most tantalizing moment of my life. "No! Don't shoot her!" I heard his voice suddenly. My heart beat faster and I spun around. A gun was being aimed at me, their laugher devilish at my pitiful state. Two strong men were holding him back - I knew that he could never save me. "Please don't!" He cried, trying hard to escape from their grip. "She'll be dead any moment. Wish her a happy farewell!" And someone fired. "Duck!" He screeched, "That was their last bullet. Duck!" But before I could decide what to do, I felt the force of the deadly weapon pierce my heart. I heard the screams, the shouts and the cries once again. I collapsed to the ground and was writhing in pain. I heard him cry, I felt him lift my head, I felt his fingers on my lips.... But it all seemed too distant, too alien. "No!" I screamed beholding his plunge into the ocean. No one would have heard me though; for I was already in another world. - - - "It's all because of me," I whispered, tears flowing from my eyes, like the redness that had flowed from my bosom. "I was too slow." "No, it's my fault," she said, "I never stop for anyone. If I had halted but for a moment, you’d both exist today. It's my fault." I slowly stood up, the ground unfirm beneath me. I wrapped my arms around my frail body and gazed at her. "He doesn't blame you either. He knows the truth." I felt my eyes melt, this time dissolved in tears of joy. The guilt that had gnawed away at me evaporated too. I could see him once again, in ghostly form. He nodded at me reassuringly, with a smile on his face that I knew so well. I smiled in a way that I had not since entering this new world, and I ran back to my abode. I could not touch him. I could not speak to him. Yet, I could feel his thoughts and he could feel mine. That would be my solace for the days to come.
	© Ashwathi Iyer, 2007 (all rights reserved) Ashwathi writes from India, "I thought I should give a small explanation of it (the story), coz it could be vague. Read it only if u think it's needed. Otherwise pls. do stick to ur interpretation of it:) There are 3 characters: "she" speaking in first person, is dead. So is the guy in the story. The third, another "she" (the one who takes the blame on herself) is the 'Goddess of Time'."