The Woman on the Bench

There was once a woman lying on the bench at the front of her house, facing the beach and the vast ocean ahead. It was late in the afternoon, nearing twilight. A few moments later, the darkness of the night will surely creep in while she was still lying in that makeshift bamboo bench.

In the stillness of her position, the only movement observable is her old and grey hair which was touched by the cold afternoon breeze. She loved her position so much because she has been there for a few hours; the same position yesterday and the day before that.

As she lies motionless on that bench, thoughts rushed in her mind like a hurricane. Unlike that soothing afternoon breeze, her thoughts speed up as she observed the stillness of her surroundings. Those were not thoughts, those were memories. Memories that were continuously in her head.

As her memories raced in her head, she can't dismiss the cracking of her body, the weight of her eyelids, and the twists and jerks of her muscles. She recognized the signals of her own body and realized that it's slowly crumbling into oblivion. But for now, it does not matter to her. Her concerns are more on reliving her precious memories before they were gone.

One of those memories is of the time with her husband who has gone before her. She knows she will follow him soon, but she chose to continue to reaffirm those memories for her to tell him when they meet again. She remembered how they would sit on that bench and share every inch of space there is to offer.

She loved to watch bubbles form as the waves crash on the shore. She would gaze in those bubbles until they pop while her husband would tell tales of his adventure to the world beyond the horizon. She tried to relive them again, but her eyes are failing her. Unlike before, what she can make out are silhouettes; patches of white dots against the turquoise sea.

In those memories, she remembered the long moments of silence as they ran out of stories to tell. They just sparingly stare at each other and the ocean before them, but they recognize each other's presence. It was a memory she holds dear because it was her comfort. She realized that they don't have to talk in order to affirm each other's presence. It made her heart at peace even if her body is slowly revolting.

In her quest to find solace in her situation, she stumbled upon an old memory; back when she was young and her prime. Together with the trembling of her body is the laughter that emanates from her younger self, in her memory. She thought how happy she was with her friends as they traverse the dirt road to the town proper. She remembered how they would gather in the meadow to pick flowers. But the meadow has long been gone; it exists at least, only in her memories. She thought of how they were; if they have suffered the same fate with her or if they're still alive and well as of this moment.

As the sun slowly sets in the background, she thought of old age as both a blessing and a curse. She's thankful that she has reached that far, but she wished she had gone before her husband. It's a curse for her because every moment she makes would cause a sensation all throughout her body. Like that dilapidated bamboo hut behind her, that is rocked by the wind. She tried to resist and lie as still as possible.

She had no regrets because that would only make her sad. However, if she will be granted with one wish, she would wish to have a companion. She did not specifically choose what kind of companion, but she unconsciously wanted a child. A child that would have been her distraction from the passing of her husband three years ago.

More moments passed by as she observed a change in the direction of the breeze. Slowly, the most dreaded darkness creep in like a lava that is flowing down the hill. It will be in no time when the whole surroundings will be engulfed in pitch black blanket that the night always brings.

By this time, she should have got up to prepare her meal. But she didn't. She was still lying on that bench as the night has fully taken over.

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Notes:

1. Photos were taken by @legendarryll.
2. Less than 1000 words short story - 749 words
3. Sharing my draft: