Matters So Tender and Unreconciled: Chapter 1

Rated: M

“Enjoying the party, dear?”

Erna’s unexpected voice pounced on her from behind, making Eva start like a newborn foal. Her shoulders scrunched up, making her hand twitch, and the front of her black, satin evening gown was hit with a sprinkle of wine.

“Oh, dear me!” Erna exclaimed. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“No, no,” Eva said quickly, her focus forcibly yanked from a dreadful scene playing out before her. She instinctively wiped at her dress with her empty hand, her subtly polished fingers fanning out as she tried to hastily corral her increasingly tempestuous thoughts. She inspected the garment and fortunately noted no discernible damage.

Simultaneously grateful yet anxious to be presented with a distraction, she turned to Erna who herself was festively dressed to the nines in a fitted, deep red velvet evening gown with gold splashed over her fingers, wrists, ears and neck. She gave her host a bashful smile and said lightly, “I’m afraid I was busy daydreaming. My mother says I do it too much. She says someday my head will remain empty if I’m not careful.”

More and more she found herself hoping that her mother’s warning would come to fruition. Maybe there was something to be desired in being empty-headed. Awareness had only planted doubt and dread at her doorstep.( Read more... )