Word Play

 

Word Play

Hug: Heartfelt. Understanding. Gratitude.

Kiss: Knowing. Invasive. Sensual. Sizzling.

Joy: Joking. Overtly. Yelling.

Laugh: Lightness. Audacious. Unencumbered. Glee. High.

Caress: Casual. Arousing. Restive. Electric. Soothing. Sensation.

Embrace: Encompassing. Melting. Belonging. Relaxing. Awesome. Celestial. Embolden.

Fuck: Familiar. Unrelenting. Carnal. Knowledge.

Love: Longing. Overwhelming. Visceral. Engulfing.

Pain: Pulsing. Anguish. Intensive. Nasty.

Cry: Cracked. Ripped. Yielded.

Hit: Hard. Instant. Terrifying.

Break: Brutal. Rending. Excruciating. Awful. Killing.

Annie’s Escape

Annie’s Escape
Characters: Annie, Her Mother
Rating: PG
Word Count:  733

There was no other choice. Annie had to leave before she was the next one to be killed. She had to get out of there and fast.

Annie quietly made her way out of the manor. Once she was clear, she picked up her skirts and ran for the stables.

Annie didn't even take time to saddle the mare. She grabbed the reins of the chestnut mare and climbed up on the side of the stall to mount.

Annie rode out of the stable as fast as she could. She glanced behind her but didn't see anyone following her.

Annie rode all night. She only stopped long enough to water the horse and find some berries to eat. She reached the city just as the sun rose in the sky.

Annie found the public stable for her horse and made her way on foot to the only place she could go. She went to her mother’s house.

Annie hesitated at the door. It had been years since she had left home. It had been more years than she cared to think about.

She wasn't even sure that her mother would let her in. They fought the day she left. They fought about the man she had left with to the county manor.

She knocked. She waited.

The door opened. Her mother stood in the doorway.

“Annabelle. Why are you here?” The old woman said. She blocked the doorway. “Go away. I don't want you here. You made your choice.”

“The soldiers are in the countryside. He is dead as are all of the servants. Mother please. I have no other place to go.” Annie said. 

“So you are here with nothing. Begging for me to take you in when I told you not to go with him.” Her mother said. “I don’t want you here.”

“I have money and jewels.” Annie said. “Please let me in.”

The old woman moved aside to let her in. She pulled her inside. “Come in then.”

Annie went to the hearth and held out her hands to warm them. “Thank you.”

“Where are your money and jewels?” The old woman asked. I see nothing but a gold ring.

Annie pulled up her skirts and showed her a large purse. “I have what I said. I never lie to you.”

“Hmph. You always lie. You lied about him. That's how you got into this mess.” Her mother sat at the table. “I need money for the rent and there's no food.”

“What would you have done if I hadn't shown up?” Annie said.

“I have my ways of surviving.” The woman said cryptically.

“You make money by selling yourself.” Annie spat out. “You always have. That was why I never knew my father. You didn’t even know his name.”

“Well, there we are. I always suspected that's how you felt about me.” Her mother banged her fist on the table. “I should have never let you in.”

“Then I will go. I should have never come here.” Annie walked to the door.

“Wait. You have nowhere to go.” Her mother called out.

“I have money. I will stay at the public house.” Annie put her hand on the door latch. “Goodbye Mother.”

“You can't leave me with nothing.” The old woman shouted.

Annie faced her mother. She pulled off her ring and threw it at the old woman. “Here. It’s more than you deserve. I don't know why I came here. You tried to sell me to men.”

“It’s not a real bad life. It has its good days and bad days.” The old woman laughed.

“I didn't want to be like you. That was the real reason I left. I never loved him. He was kind to me.” Annie told her.

“He made you soft.” The woman scoffed.

“He made me whole. Goodbye.” Annie went through the door.

Annie went into the cold harsh world. She made her way to the public house and then started a new life.

Annie sold the mare and worked serving tables at the public house for room and board. She managed to keep most of what she had brought with her.

After the war, Annie went back to the manor house. There wasn't much left by the time she returned. She sold what was left and the house. It gave her enough to live modestly for the rest of her life.