Topic: A New Grave

Lucky Duck

Date: 2006-07-26 23:06 EST
The somber man with the rounded shoulders hadn't been given a second thought when he claimed Mrs. Clancy's remains. No one cared he favored his right side when he walked and that his black suit looked like it had been slept in for days. Afterall, he had the appropriate documents and 'release fee" in hand when he showed up to collect the body.

*****

The man didn't speak a word as he watched the coffin lowered slowly into the freshly dug grave. The priest quietly recited the prayers and blessings, intermittently sprinkling holy water and swinging the censor until the scent of myrrh hung in the air and clung to the man's wrinkled black suit. He stood stoically as the grave was filled and covered. He remained there long after the priest and the others had left, standing like a silent sentry until the shadow off the tree canopy stretched over the grave and new marker to shade it. The headstone simply read:

Rosemary "ine Clancy Beloved Wife, Mother and Friend

Finally the man limped to the cool stone marker that matched and stood beside another, older stone marker identifying the final resting place of one ?Aidan Jacob Clancy' and left a single yellow rose atop the new headstone.

Gwyr didn't look back nor break his silence as he retreated to the waiting carriage.

Gwyr Mowbray

Date: 2006-08-20 19:22 EST
The predawn hour, in that quiet time of transition between the second act and the first, was when the man visited the cemetery. It was a time that held the promise of privacy. A time when he could drop his guard...a little. It was a time, hopefully, prying eyes and eavesdropping ears would be sleeping and closed.

Gwyr made his way to the two unassuming grave stones that stood side by side. The man still carried a slight limp, favoring his one leg. He slowly knelt by the newer headstone and placed a few yellow roses by the marker. And there he remained for a few moments in that predawn hour, saying nothing.

A few sprouting leaves were plucked from the grass and tossed aside. The man carefully rose to his feet and made his way back to the carriage. As each time he visited, Gwyr didn't look back nor speak a word.

Lucky Duck

Date: 2007-07-10 02:23 EST
Gwyr had insisted. "Ye owe it tae her, Gov'nor. Ye owe it tae yerself." Gwyr had insisted. The barrister's faithful manservant walked behind Lucien a step, guiding him to the two stone markers that stood side by side under a shade tree. He stepped around the barrister, who'd stopped at the foot the grave, to lay a yellow rose atop the one stone marker. Gwyr busied himself with pulling a few errant weeds that had sprouted and brushing off the few tidbits of debris that'd gathered near the foot of the headstones. Lucien didn't noticed the man's tending. His presence had all but faded into the background. All he saw were the two names as he stood there with his hands in his pockets. A thousand things ran through his mind, things he wanted to say. And none found voice. Save one. "I'm sorry."