For some, they bury the memories and feelings, pouring dirt and erecting a gravestone over it never to return. For others, they revisit that grave over and over and over trying to reimagine how they could have created a different outcome.
"I'm still not sure how to process it sometimes, and I'm working on that. You know me," she said with a tremulous smile that didn't echo her nonchalance.
They were on the front porch of the house now, a cozy embrace of comfort surrounding them, each sitting on a step. Jars of silver-white moonlight glowed for them.
"I wish I could kill him," Ursula's voice was low and calm. And it was honest. It was so honest that Eloise reached out a hand and laid it over hers.
"Hey, I'm the violent one," she said. "But yeah. Sometimes I do too. Mostly, I want to move on. Forget it all."
"It wasn't your fault. Those officers were shit at their jobs and monsters at being human. And I wish that I could kill them too."
She laughed and laid her head in Ursula's lap. "Alright, Sea Witch. But just being here with you is enough."
Ursula ran her fingers through Eloise's hair and looked up at the moon. It was waning, and beautiful as she slipped away slowly.
"Did you know that when the moon is in its waning phase, the part that glows decreases from almost fifty percent to less than a percent?"
"No, I didn't," she replied lifting her head to look up at the crescent in the sky. It was stark, that little thumbnail a juxtaposing force of light against the black backdrop.
"It's still quite beautiful when it disappears. Still there. Still a sliver of brightness," she murmured softly.
Eloise's heart filled. "Thank you."
Ursula tucked her hair behind her ear. "I hope you know," she paused and swallowed, the words not coming, but understood.
Eloise nodded. "I do." And Ursula nodded too. And then they sat there looking up at the moon, the smallest piece of her shining, but shining nonetheless.
No wonder the moon is often written or talked about as though she is a woman. A woman, even when she's being swallowed by darkness and slipping away to rest, shines a little. And still, when she goes completely dark, it's only for a spell until she's back again, serenading the world with her light.
The Lazy Snail was enchanting, the kind of place you wanted to make a regular stop in your breakfast and brunch routine. But The Dancing Snail was dazzling. From the ceiling dropped thousands of glowing warm stars with a golden moon so large and bright that matched the phase it was in so that tonight there was the tiniest sliver dangling from the high, unseen ceiling.
Tonight, four women showed up with their dancing shoes in various heel heights and in beautiful outfits ready to release tension and worries.
Eloise was in a gold glittering dress that she wondered if she was too old for, then promptly put it on in defiance. Jen was glorious in a red satin fitted cocktail dress that showed off her full figure and her long legs. Kelsea was in a backless black halter top and a pleather skirt with high heels that put her nearly at Jen's height and Tilly's lavender chiffon dress was made of fairytales fitting her sweetness and the tips of her hair.
"I cannot believe Ursula picked Jenson over this," Jen said as they took a picture together.
"I can," Eloise said with a snort. "Have you seen him?"
"You are not lying," Tilly replied with a wide smile. Tonight she had left the cute cateye glasses off and her eyes were large and made her sweetness tenfold.
"Alright," Jen announced to the group. "We are here to celebrate new business deals, even though Ursula isn't here, the little witch, and new relationships." Her eyes turned up at the corners as she smirked with held secrets.
"Wait wait, new relationships? What did I miss?" Kelsea asked.
"The redhead and I have made it official."
They moved to the bar together with appropriately loud congratulations and the sounds that women make for each other in celebration. After drinks were ordered they demanded answers.
"Is her name Redhead or..." Eloise teased.
"Isla," Jen grinned.
"Pretty," Tilly and Kelsea said.
"She is very pretty. And she's smart. And she's into healthy lifestyles and building her business around it."
"Oooh, Jen found her twin flame," Tilly cooed.
