BELLRAM V01 - Ambivalence of Light and Shadow I

BP001-P31 - Pralines 13

Lijeux led Meia to the dressing table. She had already spotted her suitcases next to the dresser. She explained to Lijeux which one contained her dress and Lijeux immediately and eagerly set about getting it. With a strong swing of her arm, she lifted the heavy suitcase to hoist it onto the high dresser. However, the momentum was not quite enough to reach the top and when it was completely used up, the suitcase immediately made its way back down. She tried to catch the weight with her other hand, but hit one of the latches, causing the suitcase to open, causing the dress and shoes to fall out, and one of the corners to hit her foot, causing her to drop the suitcase altogether. In the fall, it ripped off her waist bag, which meant that now not only the contents of the suitcase, but also the entire contents of her bag were scattering across the floor. At the same time, the pain from her foot elicited a sound from her that reminded Meia of the rutting cry of a roebuck. It was a scene play of tragedy. Meia was at a loss for words.

She could have just opened the suitcase on the floor.

For the next half minute she once again collected her stuff together. This was the already second time that she had lost the things from her bag.

When she had everything together again, she also picked up the shoes and the dress.

Ruby red fabric rose into the air and made a sound like a sheet on a clothesline in a storm. The breeze swept a strand of hair out of Meia's face.

The dress in her hands was off-the-shoulder with blunt V-necks on both sides. There was an elegant loop around the waist to flatter the hips. Matching shoes with medium heels and a hair band with long ends had also been in the suitcase.

Meia had definitely wanted to take this dress with her, even if it was not the best and was already a little worn, because it was something special for her. In her memory, it was the dress her mother always wore. Meia did not know for sure if it was the same. Her father did not talk about it and it had been too long ago. But when she closed her eyes and thought of her mother, she saw a woman in front of her in this dress and with this ribbon in her hair. So it had to be true.

Lijeux did not seem to be taken in by the dress to the same extent. Almost indifferently, she threw it over the chair of the dressing table without even looking at it closely. As she did so, Meia noticed that her posture had somehow slumped in the meantime. She had become a symbol of listlessness. Now that the actual work was beginning, she seemed to have lost all drive. A minute ago, on the other hand, she had seemed as if she were about to fly away with lightness. The act of lifting the suitcase onto the dresser and the subsequent failure had apparently drained all her energy and motivation.

In complete listlessness, she bent down to take off Meia's shoes. She did not offer her to sit down, instead she gave her a pat on the bottom of each calf to make her lift the corresponding leg. It was like trying to get at the hooves of a horse.

Then she came back up to take care of the dress.

Meia prepared herself mentally. It would be unpleasant, but she had no choice. She had to get through it.

A strangers eyes were on her.

A strangers hand laid against her back.

The zip went down.

The dress began to slip.

Meia looked at her hands. Nervously, she gripped her index finger. What should she do? Should she talk to her to distract her?

Through furtive glances in the mirror by the window, she watched what was happening. Unfortunately though, the mirror was in a bad position. A strangers face was not to be seen.

The hands gripped them again. Fresh air rushed unevenly into her lungs as she took a shuddering breath.

The dress fell at her feet.