Slowly now, but with strength

Marinette walked to her garden to make amends. She stepped on the cold ground with bare feet. She moved her legs on the grass. She walked to the roses and cut off the thorns, so she would no longer feel the pain. She pulled the lilies from the ground so she could no longer go to the cemetery that was her heart. She walked to the daises and removed the petals, so she could no longer count on the love that let her down.

Finally, she took an axe and cut down the apple tree that occupied her garden. She threw away the naked branches and chopped this tree into small pieces, to match the number of misplaced pieces in her soul. She took the wood into her home and started a fire.

Putting the fragments of her into a fireplace. She arranged everything and lighted a match. She watched the flames blaze and started to breathe. Staring at the memories that dragged her down, turn into ash. And as the smoke lifted to the chimney and floated to the sky, she let it fly high and reach the dark clouds that took permanent residence in her mind. She stared at that smoke that would clear her soul, body, heart, and mind.

She waited for the rain to erase the bad in her life. And as the first drops felt down from the sky above, banging on the roof, she felt her chest rise and fall. Her heart once again beating in rhythm. And through the glass she stared, marveling at the night sky. Watching the clouds clear, and at last noticing the moon. Its light glow showing her the way, guiding her to someone she once was. No longer stuck in the dark and cold. But with moonbeams on her skin and light in her fibers.

Strong enough to start the healing process. To begin anew.

One day at a time, until she was human again.

...