TheBanyanTree: JENNIFER MOSS

[Sharon Mack]

PROMPT: September 3, 2004 (From my writing workshop)

Write a poem or a story using one of the following titles...let your
imagination be your guide:

#4.	JENNIFER MOSS

Jennifer Moss was very still.  She barely drew breath.  She knew the
moment was fragile.  Slowly, ever so slowly, she bent her head to peer
into the water.  She could hear the tender waves of the river lapping at
the bank.  It soothed her.  Finally she could see the edge of her
reflection.  It moved with the water and wouldn't be still.  It
reminded her of how she felt every time she left the river's edge. 
Only here could she find solace.  Only here could she find the peace
that always seemed to elude her.

She wanted to tell Paul, she wanted to tell her mother, she wanted to
tell her small baby boy how much she loved them.  That she loved them
more than life itself.  That she loved them more than the very breath
inside her, more than her own soul.  She wished they could be with her
for this one last moment....to see the beauty, to hear the sounds.  All
they would have to do is to see her face and they would know.   Here at
the river she was different.  She was calm.  She was at peace.  She
could think.

She remembered watching "The Hours," and thinking that Virginia Woolfe
was very brave to just walk into the river.  To fill her pockets with
stones so that the river would be sure to take her, to swallow her, to
let her become a part of the flow.  Jennifer wanted to walk into the
river, too.  She wanted her feet to muddy the reflection that wouldn't
be still.  The reflection that told her how she really was; the
reflection that told the truth.  The reflection that reminded her of how
things really were.

By the time Jennifer came out of her reverie, the sun had moved and she
was in shadow.  She could see the sun flickering on the river on the
other bank and the birds flying low over the water.  The spell was
broken and she came back to herself with a thud.  Slowly Jennifer raised
her tired body from the mossy bank and sighed, a long sorrowful sigh. 
The wind picked up and the branches shook over her head.  She could hear
Paul calling her.  She knew the baby would be hungry and mother would be
ready for her medication.  

As Jennifer climbed up the bank, she could see the edge of the U-Haul
truck that would take her from her beloved river.  She knew she would
never be back.  She knew that a very large piece of her would always
belong here.  She knew she would regret the move for the rest of her
life...but life had to move forward and sometimes it wasn't good to
ever look back.  Slowly she climbed the last few feet.  When she reached
the top of the bank Paul was waiting for her and she took his
outstretched hand. It was strong and warm, and Jennifer could smell the
freshness of his skin in the breeze.  He smiled at her and told her how
beautiful she looked in the glow of the setting sun and he kissed
her...kissed her while the baby cried for his supper and her mother
looked past them from the window.