Bella

She stood there, silent and still in the shadows, of the sweet, soft, moon-kissed night. While the clouds, dark and deep, rolled overhead she waited, waited for her beloved, the man she hoped to wed. Pray, would he come at midnight or would he come at dawn? She lingered on in her agonized silence hoping he would not take too long. She listened to the gurgling ripples of the creek’s song, and she thought of her love. What had become of he, he with the noble brow frothed with dark curls? Would he appear suddenly as an apparition to clasp to his breast her face made of pearl? She heard the breeze whistle through the wood, She felt the crisp air sting her cheek and she wondered if he would, come at all. She waited and stayed and watched but she never saw, her beloved who came at night in secret. Slowly, dark became light and night became day and somewhere across the wood she heard the hounds begin to bay. Heavy hearted she turned away from her place of silence. “Alas,” said she, “ I shall endure.” And in defiance, she stood tall. As she took her leave she heard the depths of the forest call, pleading for her to have a steadfast heart. She was seized with a yearning desire for her beloved that clutched at her, body and soul, and from her eyes flowed an irrepressible stream of tears. The moon bestowed upon the trembling girl his precious rays of light to calm her fears. The hounds bayed again shattering the quiet of the wood, but no notice did she take for fear of wondering if ever her heart could, heal. When would she learn of the tragedy and what would she feel? Her beloved, the criminal, had been tracked down by the hounds on the highway. When would she learn of the fatal mistake her heart had made? Unaware of her love’s fate she a silent farewell bade.