Eternal lives – short contest story
I see him in his rocking chair, under the cool shadow of
the cherry tree we planted ten years ago. Eyes closed,
a smile on his lips, he’s doing what he loved doing best-
listening to the wind rustling the woods surrounding our house.
Grandpa’s ears, always alert, pick up the sweet music of the dry
leaves crunching under my feet. Looking at me he grins.
I feel like a six year old all over again, making little paper boats
with him by the lake.
I sit at his feet, leaning towards him, laying my head on his lap.
I open my mouth to tell him how much I love him,
how sorry I am that I couldn’t tell him all those years ago..
but no words come out. I try again and again.
But they freeze in my throat…
Suddenly, I hear grandpa say “I know”.
My eyes rise to his. He is still smiling,
the molten brown of his eyes swirling hypnotically,
as if he could see right through my soul.
That my thoughts are in disarray
as images from the past dance before my eyes like
a surreal slideshow. I’m sure he can see it, too-
grandma kissing me for the last time,
me arguing with my parents over going to the UCLA,
me blushing beet red as Scott kissed me that first time,
me squabbling with him..
I turn to grandpa wanting to tell him how I mess up
my emotions and my relationships, and withdraw into the
deepest corners of my soul at the first sign of crisis. How,
no matter how many times Scott tells me he loves me,
I just smile back at him, how it’s so difficult to hug mom and
tell her that I appreciate all that she does,
how I don’t share my secrets with dad anymore..
and if this is what growing up is all about,
I wanted to be a child all over again!
Another “I know” hangs in the air.
He takes my small hands in his big, wrinkled ones, and looking into
my eyes he says “Break down those walls Emma, they’re no good”
Before I can react, he slowly vaporizes into thin air.
Huge tears dampen my cheeks as the import of what happened sinks in.
I get up and walk towards the house, drying my tears
and let the night air, still warm from his presence, soothe me.
Scott is waiting at the door. He comes over every day
so that I don’t get lonely, with mom and dad
away. Smiling, I run up to him and hug him,
whispering a heartfelt “I love you” in the process. He hugs me tighter.
I decide to call my parents tonight, and tell them how much
I love them. Sofie, my little beagle, is nudging my feet. Scott picks her up
and we go into the house together.
It must have been an illusion. It couldn’t have been grandpa.
He died 6 years ago, “Damaged kidney” they’d said. But the voice was
His, those eyes, that knowing glance…
I turn back to join Scott at the dinner table, and something grandpa once said comes back to me
“People live forever in the hearts of those that love them”
It makes sense. It does.
Anuradha Iyer.
I’m a 22 yr old student of Advertising and Marketing from India who loves to read, watch world movies, sing, cook and write in her spare time. I also am an avid lover of languages and pride myself on my French speaking and Spanish reading abilities! I wrote this story for the official magazine of my college festival and was told it touched a few chords..(though this version differs a little from the original)
Here is an another story by Anuradha – Dreams come true.
nice 1 anu!!
Hi Anu,
Wonderful story! You have captured the emotions very well
Keep writing 
Luv,
Venkat.
That was a really good story Anuradha. It was indeed very touching and emotional. Beautifully written. And I guess it echoes what a lot of people go through in life – having difficulty expressing themselves.
Beautiful writing there…i love little bites out of life…they offer you a strange sense of comfort…well captured.
never doubt ur work anu…excellent to say the least!!
Amazing blend of emotions Anu, you have captured them well with your words.
One can surely connect to this in many way but one- love.
Kudos to you!
Your pal,
Anitha.
Hey Anu,
Kudos! The story evoked a lot of vivid imageries. Sometimes I felt that I was hallucinating.:) It stirred a lot of emotions and triggered a lot of flashbacks in our own lives.
Cheers,
Aloshe
Hi Anuradha,
I totally relate to Emma and this story makes me wonder why we ignore the small beautiful things in life and act so rigid, when deep down inside, we know that its only the small beautiful things gives us the most gratification. Well done, Anuradha.. Your story has touched me..!!
Awesome Anu. Great writing. Keep up the good work
“People live forever in the hearts of those that love them” .. a gem of a quote from grandpa!!
This story took me back to my wonderful days with grandma.. How I miss them!!
Heartfelt words Anu.. Truly well-written and deeply moving!!
Very good.Very well expressed.
rajagopalan
Hi Anu
read and reread your story….it does strike a chord..especially in this money-strung-materialistic world that we are living in now…where we take our family and friends and all our loved ones for granted…your words transform in to images like a spectral half-compounded aqueous light..which pervades an open mead…you’ve truly captured the essence of all those small little things unsaid..unexpressed..thanks for this beautiful story…keeep writing…
jyo
yo!
Well knitted plot
Lots of transient emotions
Good attention attention to detail(especially to the surroundings, noises and subtle features of grandpa and other characters)
Nice flow from para to para
Big emotions, big imagery
Those were the technical aspects of your writing. good job.
Now, about the plot, its great how your story is not reliant on one single climax, but manages to hold the attention in the intro, main body as well as the end. Its extremely personal, a brave piece of work. A bit on the dreamy side(observe the number of adjectives haha), but it does touch a chord.
keep writing anu, dont stop until you see a booker! cheers!!!
Hey Anu, a lovely story that truly touched my heart. I can exactly relate to what you have written, as i too share the similar beautiful bond Emma shares with her grand-dad! I too have written several ‘I Love you’ letters to my grand dad in the past….Its truly a heartfelt story!!!
hey sorry for checking in late
i m not surprised at how beautifully u express… heard it in class the othr day. i luv the blend of subtlety with vividness.. very picturesque and fluid, and yet crisp in thought n flow
way to go womann!!
gluck!
Break those walls down. her subconscious prompting her to solve her problems. nice
Brilliant work, Anu. Way to go.
i seriously loved it.. have u written anything besides this? coz i would love to read that too!
Hey,
The story is great! An unique way of story-telling, lyrical but still prose!
Great job!
Anu – Lovely little story…that pulled at the heart strings. Look forward to reading more of your stories.
I love your writing style and a lovely story too. Keep writing!
Touching Story
Great piece of work..
i really liked your story, i could picture the entire thing in front of me like it was happening before my eyes, great skill you have there.. hope you pursue it so that more people can see the beauty in ur writing
- Jeremy.
Leave your response!
Sign up for Short Story Book Newsletter
Our Latest Tweets
Categories
Peep in the past
Recognitions !!
Calendar
Blogroll
Tags
Current Story Rating
Latest Short Stories
Recent Stories
Most Commented
Recent Comments
Most Viewed
Short Story Lovers
Visitors: 99069 Since: June 21, 2003