The Bimbo in Limbo

The Fire and the Flood

Let's heat things up a bit in this rather long chapter, huh?  (Puns and foreshadowing much? Yes.) In fact - just so you know - this chapter was very nearly titled 'Handjobs and Hummingbirds.' So...you're welcome. Playlist (Limbo Bimbo on Spotify): Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You - Stevie Nicks; Yellow Flicker Beat - Lorde; Angel on Fire - Halsey; Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac; Hotter than Hell - Dua Lipa; Heart of Gold - Neil Young; Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy. Poetry excerpt is from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot. 

The room was quiet and dark and chilly. The door clicked closed like a semicolon - something still to follow. Through cracked blinds and gauzy curtains, the silvery outline of woman curves supine on the bed. Jude. "Need the loo?" She asked, voice watery. Sniffled.

The bed creaked as Eunice climbed on it, not shy at all. "Nah. Came to check on you."

At the intrusion, Jude was turning. At the voice, she was firing up to a sit. Her hands flew to the little nun's face. Even in the dark, she recognized "Eunice!" Flung arms around the fey form. "Oh, God!" Sobs wracked her. She clutched woolen habit as if she might tear it apart. "It's you!" She buried her face in a wimple, breathed through snot. "God, you still smell like you. Oh, Eunice, I need you so bad!"

"And I'm here." Eunice's arms wrapped Jude just as tightly. Even angels could be moved to tears. Two escaped her eyes despite the peaceful smile on her face. "And you still smell like you. Like gardenias." Her fingers stroked Jude's hair. She'd washed her face and put on a gown and robe. "If it wasn't so dark, I'd tell you how pretty you are."

"I look like Hell." Jude pulled back - barely - to take in Eunice's features in the moonglow. "But you're beautiful, Eunice. Like an angel."

"Well..." Eunice shrugged. "Not bragging or anything."

Jude managed a chuckle through her tears. Hiccupped behind her hand. "I'm so happy ta see ya." The hand cupped Eunice's cheek. "I missed you so much, Eunice. I missed ya at Briarcliff and I missed ya after. I feel like I sought you for the longest time."

"You did." Eunice settled back on the pillows, bringing Jude. "But you had made a decision, and I couldn't influence it. I could only wait."

"Wait far what?"

"For you to be ready! To remember all that. To remember me! Or you would have just thought I was some stupid little blonde thing come -"

"What have I said about calling yourself stupid?" Jude was suddenly vehement, whipping in Eunice's arm.

"I'm not!" The girl reassured, pleased that Jude was still...Jude. "I'm just saying you wouldn't have known me. Like Timothy out there."

"Oh." Jude settled again, content in Eunice's friendly and encompassing hug. They rested easily against one another, Jude humming happiness.

"That poor bastard." Eunice muttered.

Jude laughed. "He's havin' a rough time."

"He deserves it."

"I'm not makin' things easy."

"You shouldn't."

"But...I'm starting ta...I dunno." She sighed.

"Fall for him?"

"That's scary, Eunice. I already went down that road once, and look what it got me."

"Hm. Well." Eunice toyed with a loose curl on Jude's head. "Betty wasn't such a bad name."

Jude snorted. "What scares you exactly? Falling in love? Or forgiving him?"