The tantalizing scent from years gone by draws her to the past. Ruminating once more, she sits before the window and looks out over the garden. The laughter and joy of children running amongst the flowers and tall grasses brings a sad smile to her face. She leans her head upon the pane, her delicate hand reaching up to join with the leaded glass as well. Shifting to stare upward toward the warm glow of the sun, she squints. With a sigh, her eyes drop to her lap, her hand follows. She longs to run in the tall grasses, to play amongst the riot of fragrant flowers now in bloom, but alas, the braces upon her legs no longer allow such things. No matter the grandeur surrounding her, it does nothing to alleviate the pang of loss she feels. She rolls back to the desk and rings for the nurse, her sole companion during the hours her uncle is at work. The brace upon her left leg is beginning to chafe once more; it irritates what little skin she is able to feel. She longs for her mother, her father, but most of all – her younger brother. The year is 1957; the news she reads is encouraging but for her, it comes too late.
© Copyright 2014 Nina D’Arcangela. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to my April AtoZ Blog Challenge post! I hope you enjoyed my ramble, and come back for more! Don’t forget to visit the other bloggers participating by clicking on the badge to the right, or simply using this link. :}
Nina D'Arcangela
Sotet Angyal 
April 2nd, 2014 at 11:26 am
wonder what she read? I can guess though
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April 2nd, 2014 at 1:45 pm
A news article about the cure for Polio – up until 1957, it was considered one of the most deadly epidemics in the US.
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April 2nd, 2014 at 11:26 am
It’s Sue by the way – remember all the trouble I had with wordpress? fixed now
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April 2nd, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Great news… and I know who you are Sue 😀 (I just can’t seem to make it back to your other blog…)
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April 2nd, 2014 at 1:17 pm
I’m so glad you are doing A to Z. I have someone to come and bug every day.
Thanks for the visit and as always thanks for the excellent writing.
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April 2nd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Yup, we can poke one another each day! lol Thanks, Leslie – I appreciate the kudos! 🙂
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April 2nd, 2014 at 1:32 pm
A cure discovered too late. A poignant write Ms. Nina; darkness mists like fog about the floorboards.
Wagging my dragon tail “hi”
Hope it’s a great April for you
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April 2nd, 2014 at 1:51 pm
Waving a wing back in ‘hello’! Yes, a cure, but too late in this young girls case. However, even in tragedy, there lies hope. Thank you very much for the compliment, and for visiting me!
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April 2nd, 2014 at 5:00 pm
A most interesting reference to that year when the vaccine was first used on mass in the US.
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April 2nd, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Thank you. I wanted to focus on the emotion of loss just on the cusp of hope. I was very pleased with this one. I never plan my pieces, they simply happen as I’m typing, and who better to embody hope than a crippled child who still smiles in the warmth of the sun. 1957 was a very significant year as far as US medical history is concerned.
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April 2nd, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Sad but not in a melancholic way. Beautifully penned, giving just enough emotion to allow the reader to feel the pang of loss. Well done Ms. Nina.
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April 2nd, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Thank you very much, Julie! I’m extremely pleased with the way this piece chose to evolve. 🙂
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April 3rd, 2014 at 9:50 am
In my humble opinion, one of the best things I’ve ever read from you. There’s just something about this, and not knowing what the ‘something’ is IS the magic of it. Superb, Nina! 🙂
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April 3rd, 2014 at 11:58 am
Thank you, Joe! I love this little snippet, I’m extremely pleased with it – even with the tidy wrap-up. 🙂
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April 5th, 2014 at 3:27 am
You have a knack for this intricate, sensual style. You write women well, I think.
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April 8th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
Thank you, Renae! My apologies for the late reply, it’s a bit of a zoo here. I enjoy writing with grief and a great deal of emotion (almost as much as horror – almost), and as I said earlier, I don’t plan my pieces, what comes when I sit down to write is what comes… Thank you for reading & enjoying my piece! 🙂
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