I’ve been writing a disjointed story/treatment for a novel/short story – in the form of responses to the perfect and fantabulous prompt – in the form of a song – hosted by my most crazy musical brother in arms Lance from My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog. The only rule? Your post must be 100 words. You think it’s easy, huh? I dare you to try it. 100. Not 93. Actually, I don’t dare you – I invite you.

We have been following the story of CiCi; after being summoned to New Orleans by an attorney, she discovers that she has an Aunt Lu she never knew, and this aunt has left her all of her worldly possessions. As she follows the trail of lovingly worn old photos, perfectly preserved letters and a sweet old man named Beaufort, she discovers that Lu is actually her mother and her grandfather wished she never existed. It sounds like a soap opera, I know. But it really is so much more. For part one read here. And for our last installment, when the full force of realization was too much to bear, read here.

Chapter 9

She couldn’t go back to her Aunt – no – her mom’s… she could barely say it. She couldn’t go back to that apartment now. She needed to clear her head. She needed the cold sterile hotel room. Crisp sheets, clean towels – clean slate.

The exhaustion of the day took over and she fell into a dream. Everything washed away and she was filled with the peace of green as far as the eye can see. The bluest sky was over her head and the breeze lifted her hair behind her. She wasn’t scared, and for the first time she wasn’t alone.