Short Story: Woman and the Waterfall

The water droplets spattered against her shoes. The umbrella kept the worst at bay as she stood there on the rock, watching up along the soaring waterfall. All around her, the river surged, licking the stone she was stationed. She felt the moist wind whipped against her face and the hem of her dress. She smiled. 

Despite the roaring water, she was at peace. A couple of years ago, things had been different. She had only felt excruciating pain as the place only told a tale of loss. Now she could remember. There was a solace in all the beautiful memories past the sorrow. Oh, there were times when all she could feel was utter anger that things shouldn’t be this way, but she had accepted the emotion as part of grief. There was no anger now, only the elegant rainbow as the light hit the droplets the right way.

Life had won over death as it would always do—a fallen tree spur moss and new trees from its trunk. And this water which had taken her beloved away gave life to the valleys down below, to the animals and trees which called this place their home. She would rather remember that than the fear and hate.

She pushed the umbrella into her armpit, to free her hand. She fished out from her pocket a box of matches to light the candle inside the paper lantern she had brought with her. When she was a child, she had seen the rivers of light to flow to memorize those who were gone. She still remembered those lights and the tears which followed. She lit the candle and gently lowered the lantern on to the cold water. It flowed towards the village where they had built a life together. Nothing lost, all living inside her for an eternity. Love never dies.

Goodbye! I’ll miss you.

Thank you for reading! Have a great weekend ❤

© K.A. Ashcomb