London's Summer Snow

“It’s snowing. How peaceful the snow is. It makes everything so…gorgeous. I want it! I need it! No. No! I can’t. It’s too pretty a picture to touch. I’ll ruin it. If only the snow wasn’t so delicate…then I could wrap some up and send it to…send it to…oh, it doesn’t matter. Who would want snow, anyway? Never mind. Never, never you mind. Oh, but I can’t help it! It’s…it’s unlike anything in this world! You know, I can hear my breathing in the snow. I can hear my thoughts clearly. Yes…clearly. Crunch, crunch, crunch! Hehe, the snow is so noisy, yet so calming. Funny, how that works out. It’s so…light and fluffy, but it’s cold, wet, and it hurts when people throw it at you. Ah, but I like the snow. In fact, I love it! It freezes everything exactly as it was, exactly as it should be. Should the world be frozen? Should time cease all existence? No, no, silly! That’s why we have summer, of course! Who would want snow in the summer? Well, I don’t have to worry about it because I’m in London, and it doesn’t snow in the summer here. The flakes…they fall so…slowly. It’s…as if they themselves are falling through another universe, like in another time. Almost like the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Yes, exactly like that! You know, there were all those fancy parties and such in the winter. Balls, festivals, galas…oh, it must have been wonderful! Delicious dinners…all those elegant little fruit baskets…with their perfectly picked grapes, bananas, and apples…yes…apples. Apples are very elegant. Just like the snow. But…they’re so different. Snow is white and peaceful, while apples are red and tainted. Ugh, I hate apples. They’re so unlike the snow.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Shut up, shut up! It’s them, it’s them again! Why? Why do you insist on torturing me?! But wait, what’s that? You think I’m suited for the job? Well, I do think I’m exceptional with cutlery. But why should I listen to you? You’re the ones that landed me here. You’re the ones! But…I do suppose…there is something in the way that metal gleams…something…so exhilarating! Oh, and when it cuts through the flesh and all that red water comes out…why it’s simply thrilling! The people screaming and crying…it’s like a symphony! Yes…a harmonious symphony! Oh! And well, you know, I can’t let my daughter miss a symphony that wonderful! I’d be a terrible parent! No. No. I knew! She’d just have to take part in it! Yes, yes, you’re quite right. I handled that blade, alright. I took very good care of my daughter! I had it all sorted out. But then they came in and took her from me! Oh, I feel like such an awful parent! After all, I missed my daughter’s symphony! Well, that’s alright. I’ll just have to have another one! As soon as I get out of this room. But they told me I’d be living here from now on…this isn’t my home. It’s there, with her. She is my kin, after all. Well, no matter. I’m sure she’ll get to partake in a symphony someday. She’ll learn just how beautiful the red water is and she’ll enjoy the sounds of people screaming. Oh…just thinking about it is making me all tingly inside! And if I enjoy it, I’m sure she will. Someday. After all, every daughter follows in her mother’s footsteps.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“M…mother…?!”
“Yes, dear, it’s me.”
“B…but…I thought you were…I mean, they took you, but now…”
“Yes, yes, yes. I’m here. Oh, darling, you don’t need to worry…I’m right here. Mommy’s right here for you…”
“How…? How did you…?”
“How did I get out of that horrible room? Oh, well that was easy! You see, anyone could fool those morons. I simply took this switchblade here from my pocket and slashed one of those nice nurses’ throats. I took her coat and glasses and just walked out. You see, quite simple.”
“You…you did what?!”
“Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you again, sweetie!”
“No…no! Get away from me!”
“What? No ‘welcome home, mum?’ Tch, tch, tch, I thought I had taught you better than that…”
“You haven’t taught me anything! Happy place, happy place, happy place…”
“Oh, hush up. I’ve taught you plenty! But there is one more lesson. I’ve never placed you in a symphony! You see, I knew that I had to get out of that terrible hospital and get over to you as soon as possible. I was so worried that you wouldn’t ever be a part in one! But now, I won’t have to worry about that anymore! You see? Now, come here. Time for your last lesson, sweetheart.”
“No! I refuse! I’m not coming anywhere near you! Get out…get out!”
“But, I can’t, dearie. I have to teach you how to partake in a symphony! Now, come here!”
“No…! Help…! Somebody, he-…!”
“Shhh! Oh dear, this is a private matter! Yes, yes! The corner…you’re in the perfect spot for our symphony!”
“Mnhmhmn-…!”
“Yes…haha! The symphony has begun! Keep trying! Keep trying to escape! On second thought, scream. Scream!”
“HELP! Daddy! Daddy, mum’s mad! She’s mad!”
“Mad, you say? Ha, maybe it’s so, but it sure is fun! Now…time to slowly let some red water flow…”
“NO! Not the red water! Not the red water! I hate red! No…no! Ahhhhh!”
“Heehee! Just a bit. You can’t let all the red water spill out at once, that takes away all the fun. No, you have to let it out just a smidge at a time. Oh, how beautiful! Seeing the way it slowly trickles down the warm flesh…! Absolutely gorgeous!”
“Stop…it…! I don’t want the red! I…I hate red. I…hate…it! It’s just like apples…tainted! You…are not…going to get away with this…!”
“Oh, stop struggling. You’re taking all the merriment out of your symphony! Stop it…what are you doing!? I’ll have you know that is not the way to behave at a symphony, young lady! Let go…let go of my knife! Hey…what are you…stop it!”
“No, no! I won’t stop! It’s obvious that they couldn’t handle you properly! You know what they say, mum: if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself!”
“What do you think you’re doing?! I know I taught you better than that! Is that any way to treat your mum?!”
“Is the way you’ve treated me any way to treat your daughter?! I’m sick of it…I’m sick of it all! You’re through! You’re not going to get to me anymore!”
“Dearie, sweetheart. You know I only wanted what was best for you. Mumsie always knows best.”
“No…I know what’s best! And I’m finally going to do it!”
“But, dear, you can’t. You wouldn’t! No…stop…st-…”
“There. There you go. Lie down in the snow. This picture was never meant to be perfect. The snow is too contradictory to be perfect. Yes, way too contradictory. Look, there. The red water…it’s so beautiful next to the snow…like apples in the winter. Maybe symphonies aren’t so bad after all…”