Before you knew

183.

Warm tropical Florida weather.
Oh, how we can we long for darkness and rain.

Rumble of thunder,
Wind moving trees and grass.

I stand with my feet on the threshold to our garden.
'We should really get airconditioning.'
I turn my head to the voice behind me.
My hand heats the skin above where the child is.

'We need rain.'

Clays hands move to my waist, thumbs massaging my lower back.
I sigh at the feeling as I watch the hot sun set.
Night will come,

And will bring the next pains and problems of tomorrow.

'I'll be off to England soon.'
I clench my jaw, the movements of his hands slowing to a stop.
'I know that.'

Meet up with Wilbur, George and Tommy.
Planned long ago, yet really not the most important.

Yet he's off to the cloudy land.
The four walls called home keeping me company.

I sigh as I lay my hand against the cool stone wall.
The new place.

Back then Clay had said that he wouldn't care if the place was falling apart,
So now here we are, the house sturdy on its foundation, but what it holds is fragile.
Close to breaking maybe even.

We'll build it up.
Clay had said that too.
Oh how I can remember the look on his face.
The glimmer in his green eyes.

This house is the center of my life now,
For better or for worse, this house will hold it.

A trip.
A wedding.
A child.

Oh lord, how can this end well.

Clay had looked at Amelia and Kim as they talked of memories....
Don't think about the sweet child's life, but the devils work.

As they spoke so beautifully, time passed had bloomed back to live. They triumphantly relived the bittersweet memories that once filled them with sorrow and joys.

Overdosed in catastrophe and blooming flaming fires, the world within them has spurred back to life. They laugh and smile at the once so bitter times, feeling glorious in how they've survived.

Don't understand them wrong, my dear, they remember too, how the weight of the world felt on their shoulder. how the burden of life hanged from their hearts.

They've succumb to the most vicious of ways, as they've battled the wars in their hearts and minds.

And as the conversations went on deep into the night, Clay came to understand that it was impossible to not let the past influence the future.

Yes his mind ran wild over this.

It's out of his power and it tugs and pulls at him.

Raise a sword,
Pray to the lord.

For this battle,

Is a lifelong war.