Three Converts

Part 15

Before I could scream, before the first tear dropped from my eye, I was in the center of town, my arms and head thrust through the procrustean holes of the cobwebbed pillory. It was evening. People were out for evening walks, still wrapping up their chores, preparing for the next day. The faces were a blur, but the expressions were not. Once they saw me, I saw shock register, then embarrassment for me. For my disgraced family. Most looked away immediately, but not all. Two moms bent down to their children, pointing and whispering. I was a cautionary tale. Occasionally, I'd see a smug, satisfied face. Franklin came by and nodded at the justice being served. My parents and Sophie were there, my Father's expression was so stony it could have been carved from the mountainside. Sophie and my Mother held each other up, stoic, but not without tears. After that I closed my eyes for a very long time.

I didn't sleep. The pillory made that impossible. But I was able to remove myself from my circumstance for what I hoped was several hours. When I dared open my eyes, it was pitch black and the town was quiet. Every now and then I'd see little eyes scamper by, but I was alone. Alone and cold. I moved the bottom half of my body in an effort to warm up. I tucked my fingers into my fists, but there was nothing to do about my nose, which was runny and freezing. I tried in vain to reach my head to my hand or vice versa, but every time I strained to do so, the wood pressed uncomfortably into my neck. The wood smelled old, but I knew at one time it had a pleasant scent. It reminded me of Griffin and his slivers, his callouses, his work. Him.

"Lucy?" A whisper. I turned as much as I was able.

"Soph." And the tears came. I cried and cried. A horrible sensation when you can't hide your face, or wipe your tears. "Soph," I bawled.

"Shhhh. Shhhh." With the sleeve of her robe, my sister wiped my face. I tried to pull myself together so her effort wouldn't be in vain.

"How did I get here?" I whispered.

"What happened? The council wouldn't even tell us. They said something about you being friends with Misty and she was a bad influence and that was it."

Misty? She hadn't come up at all when I was with the council. "I was trying to convert that boy? Griffin?" I could feel Sophie's grimace even if it was too dark to see. "Nothing happened! We went somewhere quiet to talk. The lake. I was so hot and the water was so cold, and he didn't want to live here, so I left. Then he found me and held my hand, but it was only to say good-bye because we were sort of friends..." I blubbered on and on, jumping from conversation to place to time in explaining my friendship with Griffin. Sophie stroked my head.

"Okay. It doesn't matter now," she soothed."We'll just get you through this and move on with our lives." I was so tired.Too tired to register her words. But as I separated my mind from my body Imuttered, "I can't move on with my life after this."