Sudden Moves. Epilogue for Bliss

                            Pain is rewarding in every capacity. ~ Marina Abramovic  

Bliss watched as the realtor placed the 'For Rent' sign on the lawn once more. It had been a year and 6 months that this cozy old home had held her inside it's walls.' If the walls could speak'... she mused to herself. A handful of boxes and a few suitcases held all of her current worldly possessions. She'd sold off or donated much of what she couldn't or didn't want to take with her keeping only books and a few paintings. In her arm, a big old pickle jar filled to the brim with leaves, acorns, and a few rocks. Mementos from her almost daily walks or hikes in and around the sprawl of mountains surrounding the town. Atonement for a battered spirit. The jar signified her healing.

Long gone from her mind were the bruised memories of old New England inns, harrowing self destruction and desperate pain. Bliss held the keys to her new life in the bag over her shoulder. A passport, a plane ticket and a bank statement promising a comfortable year ahead thanks to a generous ghost writing gig.

Bliss looked at her reflection in the dusty mirror on the wall. Accepting that 40 was near, she also knew she looked better than she had in years. The result of a purged soul and a hundred mountain hikes. She smiled at herself with a hint of triumph.

"You'll be alright ol' girl" she said aloud. The walls were listening.

Bliss thought wistfully for a moment of Floyd. Kind, gentle but broken Floyd....who became her only honest friend in the hours and days spent at the bagel shoppe. His passing a month prior was the provenance Bliss needed to move on.

The taxi driver leaned hard on the horn outside. Bliss took a deep breath and gathered her belongings. She'd arranged to have the few boxes picked up later that morning and sent to her overseas. The August air was like the warmest embrace.  Her white dress hanging beautifully on her thin but healthy frame. It was time to go.

Overhead the distant rumble of a commercial jet echoed in the air. Looking up, Bliss caught the silvery glint of the plane in the bluest sky....on it's way to somewhere.

Finally. It was time to go.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

CJ Ellis