Murkal
June 14th, 2004, 04:13 PM
There and After - a short story by Paul W. Crosland
Pharo looked at the wonderously beautiful star-filled sky with complete emotionless. He had no reason to feel its powerful effect anymore, with its magnificant beauty holding no true value for someone who had lost all connection with reality. Pharo was a mere shadow upon this world, a form without body, nor shape of distinguishable features. Only his spirit remained, moving through the void alone, as did so many others. He had lost everything that he once knew and loved. There was nothing left to feel, as far as he was concerned. Even his thought to be feelings, Pharo had come to grimly accept as being completely irrelevant, with no one else to hear or sense them, let alone understand them.
Floating into the still night air, Pharo looked across the hilly landscapes of his homeland; the place he had been so greatly attached to in life. The small village in its midst, where he had grown, was the very same as when he had left it, though so many people had come and gone through the years. He didn't know why he lingered here, but the attachment to the only true reality he remembered could not be so easily departed with. Pharo knew he would never leave, no matter how things might change a hundred, or even a thousand years from now. Always remain, and remember those times of his existance.
Even though the other spirits were often trapped in their own solitudes, it was on rare occasions that they journeyed close to one another, much like lost birds flock together. This certainly seemed to be the case tonight, as a female essence decided to approach Pharo, the first to do so in a lengthy period. The essence was just as shapeless, and unnreal as his own, but held the memory of speech, which Pharo realized he had long ago forgotten.
"Hello there," she spoke politedly.
Even though it was no more than just a single thought linking itself with his own thinking, Pharo hadn't felt something as such for many years. He struggled to come up with a suitable reply, his memory joggling itself for an appropriate reaction.
"It's a beautiful evening." were the few words which his thoughts managed to produce. It seemed decent enough, and the essence gave him a show of thanks, or at least, rather the feeling of it.
Being completely unfamiliarized with these thoughts the female prescence was giving to him, Pharo fought hard to explore this opportunity. The next 'words' he spoke were more organized, and took all of his effort.
"I'd be honored if you might accompany me to the Border of the Stars."
This was the magical place which all the sprits knew as the one black spot in the universe where all the galaxies might be seen together as a whole. Its romantic appeal for male and female essences was sometimes even enough of a reason for spirits to join themselves together indefnitely, and he was even thinking about this possibility. After all, he had mourned so long over his birthplace, and it was surely time for something new and exciting.
"I accept your wish." the thoughts of the essence replied. Pharo felt a heated happiness filtering through his surreal mind, and readily returned the same feeling towards her. Feelings, so long forgotten.
"Let us go then together." his thoughts concluded.
As the two essences left the world and rushed into the great darkness beyond, Pharo took one last look at his tiny village. Rising higher and higher, he suddenly realized that he likely wouldn't miss his long solitude. His existance in the real world was far over, and many had already moved on. And now he had someone very special to be with.
"To become one?" the female essence said as they reached the spot.
Millions of tiny colorful speckles packed themselves together before them, flooding like spilled paints across the blackness of the universe. There were vastly more colors here than the human eye would ever be able to make out. After all, neither of them were alive, and could sense everything that life itself could not. Taking what would have counted as a deep inner sigh, Pharo made his decision, and it was a good one.
"To become one." he responded.
The heated feeling from earlier now became like fire from a rising sun, and he latched onto it with every bit of his spirit's unnatural energy. Then both of their thoughts drew together, colliding in a stockade of errupting fireworks.
Pharo suddenly felt like he was transforming into her, and she felt as if she were transforming into him. The fireworks stopped, and the collection of conscient thoughts which had previously floated as two, was now only one. He was half himself, and half her. And it 'felt' more wondeful than anything he could have ever imagined.
-------------------------------------------------
Just a clue of my writing style, but not at all related to the novel(s) I'm writing. Please give me some feedback.
Pharo looked at the wonderously beautiful star-filled sky with complete emotionless. He had no reason to feel its powerful effect anymore, with its magnificant beauty holding no true value for someone who had lost all connection with reality. Pharo was a mere shadow upon this world, a form without body, nor shape of distinguishable features. Only his spirit remained, moving through the void alone, as did so many others. He had lost everything that he once knew and loved. There was nothing left to feel, as far as he was concerned. Even his thought to be feelings, Pharo had come to grimly accept as being completely irrelevant, with no one else to hear or sense them, let alone understand them.
Floating into the still night air, Pharo looked across the hilly landscapes of his homeland; the place he had been so greatly attached to in life. The small village in its midst, where he had grown, was the very same as when he had left it, though so many people had come and gone through the years. He didn't know why he lingered here, but the attachment to the only true reality he remembered could not be so easily departed with. Pharo knew he would never leave, no matter how things might change a hundred, or even a thousand years from now. Always remain, and remember those times of his existance.
Even though the other spirits were often trapped in their own solitudes, it was on rare occasions that they journeyed close to one another, much like lost birds flock together. This certainly seemed to be the case tonight, as a female essence decided to approach Pharo, the first to do so in a lengthy period. The essence was just as shapeless, and unnreal as his own, but held the memory of speech, which Pharo realized he had long ago forgotten.
"Hello there," she spoke politedly.
Even though it was no more than just a single thought linking itself with his own thinking, Pharo hadn't felt something as such for many years. He struggled to come up with a suitable reply, his memory joggling itself for an appropriate reaction.
"It's a beautiful evening." were the few words which his thoughts managed to produce. It seemed decent enough, and the essence gave him a show of thanks, or at least, rather the feeling of it.
Being completely unfamiliarized with these thoughts the female prescence was giving to him, Pharo fought hard to explore this opportunity. The next 'words' he spoke were more organized, and took all of his effort.
"I'd be honored if you might accompany me to the Border of the Stars."
This was the magical place which all the sprits knew as the one black spot in the universe where all the galaxies might be seen together as a whole. Its romantic appeal for male and female essences was sometimes even enough of a reason for spirits to join themselves together indefnitely, and he was even thinking about this possibility. After all, he had mourned so long over his birthplace, and it was surely time for something new and exciting.
"I accept your wish." the thoughts of the essence replied. Pharo felt a heated happiness filtering through his surreal mind, and readily returned the same feeling towards her. Feelings, so long forgotten.
"Let us go then together." his thoughts concluded.
As the two essences left the world and rushed into the great darkness beyond, Pharo took one last look at his tiny village. Rising higher and higher, he suddenly realized that he likely wouldn't miss his long solitude. His existance in the real world was far over, and many had already moved on. And now he had someone very special to be with.
"To become one?" the female essence said as they reached the spot.
Millions of tiny colorful speckles packed themselves together before them, flooding like spilled paints across the blackness of the universe. There were vastly more colors here than the human eye would ever be able to make out. After all, neither of them were alive, and could sense everything that life itself could not. Taking what would have counted as a deep inner sigh, Pharo made his decision, and it was a good one.
"To become one." he responded.
The heated feeling from earlier now became like fire from a rising sun, and he latched onto it with every bit of his spirit's unnatural energy. Then both of their thoughts drew together, colliding in a stockade of errupting fireworks.
Pharo suddenly felt like he was transforming into her, and she felt as if she were transforming into him. The fireworks stopped, and the collection of conscient thoughts which had previously floated as two, was now only one. He was half himself, and half her. And it 'felt' more wondeful than anything he could have ever imagined.
-------------------------------------------------
Just a clue of my writing style, but not at all related to the novel(s) I'm writing. Please give me some feedback.