A Short Story ~ Demons & Destiny

I wrote some fiction, a little short story. It’s mainly based on some of the books I have been reading lately. Hope that others can possibly relate or find inspiration through it. Here it goes…

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Her name is Autumn, and this is reflected through the natural golden and reddish highlights in her hair. Just like the season, her personality reflects total transformation. It is difficult to get to know her without letting a part of yourself die and another part of yourself be reborn.

She sits on the grass and stares at her reflection in the pond. Today is her 18th birthday and she is supposed to be at the Sunday church service with her family, finalizing the agreements of her arranged marriage. Instead, she is hiding from everybody. But there is no hiding from herself, as she continues to analyze her own reflection. Why am I so broken? She ponders, why can’t I just be happy?

It is only a matter of time before Autumn faces her inevitable fate and walks herself over to the church, sighing all the way there. Instead of walking in through the main entrance, she sneaks into the back where she finds her priest sitting in a small room where he is preparing for the sermon. The door is slightly cracked open and she gradually invites herself inside while knocking.

“Your family has been looking for you,” he tells her. He is a man who holds himself with power and authority, yet still treats others like his respective equals. Unlike other men who have lost their youthful spirit by his age, he is playful and humorous. However, anyone who misjudges him for a lack of seriousness or underestimates his command for honor will surely regret it.

“I just can’t do it!” she bursts into tears and throws herself on the bench next to the priest, “I can’t live like this!”

“Why not?” he shakes his head, “There is no need to fear. You’re marrying into an extremely wealthy, political, famous family; you will be safe for the rest of your long life.”

Autumn pauses for a moment before looking into his eyes with total desperation, “run away with me!” She pleads, “let’s run away together!”

The priest instantly chuckles and bows his head, “I don’t think so, young girl. You have a great imagination.”

“Stop pretending already,” she huffs in frustration, “You’re a religious man, undoubtably. So can’t you see that there is something out-of-this-world here, something beyond earthly matters? Don’t you teach your flock every week to follow their hearts?”

“I think the heart of the matter is that you have demons inside of yourself that you need to work on. As do I.” The priest stands up, clears his throat and adjusts himself. He excuses Autumn out of the room and tells her he has business to attend to.

And so she is left alone to face a destiny she cannot agree with. Her soul feels too unsettled to roll with the punches. There is too much energy inside of her. She was born to forge a path that she creates, not one that is simply given to her.