Stories For A Rainy Day

"Baila conmigo en el día de los muertos" (Dance With Me On The Day Of The Dead)

The young girl couldn't explain it, but she always found comfort with the dead. She could be found in the local cemetery whenever she had a spare moment. The girl would stay there until nightfall then slowly make her way home, wishing there was a way she could stay in her peaceful haven. Her excitement began to grow as the day of the dead approached. This was the one night she knew she would be able to stay out in the cemetery with her silent companions. At school she was bullied because of her odd fascination; at home she almost didn't exist. The girl wanted to do something special this year for her favorite day, but she wasn't sure what until she was walking home from school one day. She stopped into an antique shop to say hello to the older woman who owned the store, as she did every day. This time as she had walked in, a lavender dress caught her attention. The girl paused to admire it's beauty. Long and flowing sitting off the shoulders of the mannequin it had so carefully been hung on. She gingerly touched the dress, noticing that it was made out of silk and lace and each layer was hemmed in silver and gold beads. A soft smile touched her lips as she imagined being able to wear something like that on the special night ahead. How the moonlight would look as it reflected in soft glimmers off the beads... She already had a few pieces of what she considered to be perfect but she still needed a dress. The girl quickly brushed her black and crimson hair out of her face and looked for a price tag. A frown formed when she couldn't find one then went to find the woman who worked there to ask the price.

A look of confusion replaced the frown when she saw a male around her age behind the counter. He turned to look at her, his ice blue gaze seeming to stare right through her bright green eyes, into her soul. He smiled softly as he greeted her, giving his name as Michael and explained that he was the woman's grandson and that she had passed during the night, and that he would be running the store. After introducing herself as Kiera and a few minutes of discussing his grandmother, she asked the price of the dress. Michael smiled and shook his head as he told her to take it at no charge on the condition that she had a single dance with him on the night she planned to wear it. A faint blush touched her cheeks as she nodded and told him her plan. He smiled and kissed her hand as he promised to meet her under the willow tree in the center of the graveyard and pulled the dress off of the mannequin, neatly folding it and placing it in a box. He reached under the counter and pulled out a crow shaped hairpin and pressed it into her hand, asking her to wear it with the dress. Kiera nodded and said her farewell as she picked up the box and walked back to the small apartment she lived in with her parents. She only had one more year of school then she could finally move out. She quietly slipped past the living room to the safely of her room. She set the box and pin in the closet and turned on her radio to drown out the sound of her parents arguing.

The days passed slowly as she waited for the day she longed for to arrive. She awoke the morning of November 2nd, a bright smile on her lips. She made her way through the day and counted the hours until she was able to go home and get ready to meet Michael at the cemetery. When it was time, she rushed home and straight to her room. Ever so carefully, she pulled the box from its place in her closet and placed it on her bed. Kiera pulled out the shimmering garment and laid it flat on her bed as she finished collecting what she needed and went to shower. After everything was said and done, she slipped the dress on and stood in front of the full length mirror on the back of her closet door as she tightened the ribbon in the back. She smiled as she looked at her reflection. The dress fit perfectly, almost like it was made for her, and her alone. The girl fastened a black velvet choker adorned with an old cameo pendant around her neck and ran a brush through her hair before fastening the crow clip. The clip stood out among the curls of her hair as it rested among the crimson highlights. She methodically painted her face the normal white color expected of normal day of the dead make up and looked around until she found her black kohl. She painted streaks of black above and below her eyes, each tapering off in a slight curl then one simple curl at her hairline above her temple. She picked up her lipstick, making sure to let it trail slightly past her lips and ending with a curl on both sides. Kiera looked at the time and silently swore at herself as she pulled on her knee high boots and laced them as quickly as she could and rushed to the cemetery as the moon rose above the trees.

Kiera glanced around the cemetery as the moon rose higher and seemed to illuminate the stones more than usual. She hummed softly as she sat under the tree, waiting for Michael to show. She waited a bit longer then stood and walked through the cemetery. She was sure that she had been stood up, but returned to the willow tree anyway. She marveled at the fact of how the moonlight seeped through the branches and made the leaves shimmer like silver against the darkness of the night. The girl looked at the simple watch on her wrist and sighed when she saw it was almost midnight already. She had just turned to leave when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She looked over her shoulder, a small smile crossing her lips when she saw Michael. He had a hooded cloak on and he stopped in front of her and bowed as she turned to face him. He took her hand, placing a gentle kiss on it and straightened up. "Bailar conmigo el día de los muertos," he said softly, a small smile on his lips as he pushed the hood back. Her mind raced as she took in his appearance and tried to remember the translation of what he just said. His long black hair was loose along his shoulders, a skull like mask upon his face. 'Dance with me on the day of the dead,' came a whisper from what seemed to be the wind itself. She nodded and placed her hand in his as he watched her. The couple began to dance as music from an unknown source began to play, calling forth the spirits as well as the skeletons of the long deceased. Kiera looked around in amazement, sure it was all an elaborate set up until she noticed the hand she held became more skeletal. She turned her attention to the male she had known as Michael and quickly backed up. He was no longer human, but instead a skeletal figure with piercing blue eyes stood before her. She knew who he was from her research. The Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli. A puzzled frown could almost be seen on the god's face. "¿No es esto lo que querías?" The girl looked at him for a moment before her mind translated his words. 'Is this not what you wanted?' She considered her options for a moment then nodded. She could either go with him, or remain a ghost to society. She was sure that no one would notice either way.... Kiera hesitated for a moment then took his hand again, joining him in the eternal dance of death. She watched as the skeletons that swayed beside them laid back down in their graves, the Earth resealing over them. At long last she had gotten her wish. The chance to stay eternally with her silent companions. Their dance continued, even after they faded away with the rising sun.