A Vision of Crows

Chapter 16 - The Woman Beneath the Light

After Lora Reim had finished assisted Damon O'Keefe in taking the final box to the basement, she reclined in the front porch on the white rocking chair that she found herself spending many afternoons with after her husband's death.

Taking a sip from the cup of hot lemon tea that warmed her hands, she rocked herself harder on the chair as she began to contemplate.

Four days ago, when she had received the telegram from Astra, using a name she hadn't heard in years, she had been pacing around her kitchen. It was very sudden, very desperate, and it gave her all sorts of mixed emotions. After all, her relationship with Astra was... complicated to say the least.

And yet, she still found herself driving all the way from Fenrir, just outside of Soladur, to Tallahan, the city closest to the Auror Mountains that served as the border between Farthrin and Mardas. When she arrived, Astra's husband was waiting with boxes, looking around in all directions, and that was when she understood.

I've never taken you for one who runs away, she thought as she made eye contact with Astra, who stood behind Damon in the doorway. And here you are now.

Soon enough, she found herself cramped in her own car with the O'Keefes. Damon offered to drive, understanding the fact that she was very tired. And so, she wound up sitting in the passenger seat, while Astra and the children sat in the back, surrounded by boxes and bags.

"Where's the oldest girl?" she asked casually.

"She left early," Astra replied coolly, quietly rubbing the head of her little boy, Will, not looking up.

Not wanting to pry any further, Lora did not continue to ask any more, opting instead to sleep for the rest of the ride, escaping from the deafening silence of the car.

Sitting in her little rocking chair, she quietly rocked herself, and quietly sighed, "Oh Dera, how I wished you were here. Oh, what should I do?"

"What should you do, hmm?"

Taking a final sip, she turned around to face Astra. Serious and dark-eyed Astra, whom she had never quite understood. "Oh, it's you," she said.

Astra chuckled, and stood next to her, leaning onto the rail around the porch. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" she mused.

"Hmm, it is."

"It's been a while since I've been here, hasn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it has."

"I heard you married the Aaron's boy. What was his name again?"

"James. He passed away a few years ago."

"I see. So the house is yours?"

Lora nodded as she got up from her chair. She looked towards the sky, the sun peeking from the horizon.

"I'm going to go see if I can get some bread right now, "she said, avoiding eye contact with the other woman. Then, holding her cup, she headed inside to find her shoes.

It was late at night when Lora returned to her house. Her feet hurt as she walked down the sidewalk that was part of her usual route. The streetlights provided some comfort to her, ensuring that the night wasn't completely dark.

She pulled out the newspaper that she had kept tucked underneath her arm and opened it as she walked. Same old, same old. Same old bad news, same old good news, same old ads, and same old comic strips. But then all of a sudden, something caught her eye.