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31_days2005-10-22 11:19 pm
catnap-writer.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2005-10-22 11:19 pm
[October 22nd] [Original] Picture
Title: Picture
Day/Theme: October 22: Jesus etc
Series: Original (Diana and Belle #22)
Character/Pairing: Diana and Belle
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: A cathedral in a world not far from our own
They were visiting a cathedral, filled with works Diana called “Jesus, etc,” meaning Jesus and the Virgin, Jesus and his disciples, Jesus and the Saints, Jesus, etc.
The paintings were beautiful, but with little variation. The cathedral was silent, its few visitors moving slowly and respectfully through, a monk here, a few nuns there. Diana was getting a little bored when they reached one painting half hidden in its niche. Belle stopped dead and stared.
Diana looked, too. This painting was different. It was a crucifixion, but there were children in the picture. An older girl was kneeling with Mary, sobbing. A boy to the left of the cross was shouting. A little girl was holding onto the cross below the feet of the dead Jesus, a trickle of blood staining her hands, and it was this one that seemed to have caught Belle’s eye.
“What is she doing?” Diana asked.
Belle sadly rested her hand on the transparent shield that protected the painting, hand hovering above the girl as though to protect her from her pain.
“She doesn’t understand why he won’t pick her up. He always picks her up.”
Diana winced. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the few other visitors had gathered nearby. Turning to the painting again, she asked:
“What is the boy shouting?”
Belle’s eyes unfocused, and she answered in the innocent voice of a child lost:
“Jesus, you can’t die. Who will take care of us? You can’t die like Dad, don’t you dare die like Dad! You were supposed to take care of us, you’re the oldest. If you leave I have to take care of Mom and all the kids, I can’t… I just can’t… Jesus, answer me!”
Her voice broke. She wasn’t crying, but the tears were there all the same.
“Oh, God, why did you take my brother away?” Belle fell silent, her words echoing across the quiet aisle. Backing away, she staring uncertainly around her.
Those watching did not clap, it hadn’t been a performance. Instead, they crossed themselves and nodded.
And while those who were faithful knelt to pray, she who was broken ran.
Day/Theme: October 22: Jesus etc
Series: Original (Diana and Belle #22)
Character/Pairing: Diana and Belle
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: A cathedral in a world not far from our own
They were visiting a cathedral, filled with works Diana called “Jesus, etc,” meaning Jesus and the Virgin, Jesus and his disciples, Jesus and the Saints, Jesus, etc.
The paintings were beautiful, but with little variation. The cathedral was silent, its few visitors moving slowly and respectfully through, a monk here, a few nuns there. Diana was getting a little bored when they reached one painting half hidden in its niche. Belle stopped dead and stared.
Diana looked, too. This painting was different. It was a crucifixion, but there were children in the picture. An older girl was kneeling with Mary, sobbing. A boy to the left of the cross was shouting. A little girl was holding onto the cross below the feet of the dead Jesus, a trickle of blood staining her hands, and it was this one that seemed to have caught Belle’s eye.
“What is she doing?” Diana asked.
Belle sadly rested her hand on the transparent shield that protected the painting, hand hovering above the girl as though to protect her from her pain.
“She doesn’t understand why he won’t pick her up. He always picks her up.”
Diana winced. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the few other visitors had gathered nearby. Turning to the painting again, she asked:
“What is the boy shouting?”
Belle’s eyes unfocused, and she answered in the innocent voice of a child lost:
“Jesus, you can’t die. Who will take care of us? You can’t die like Dad, don’t you dare die like Dad! You were supposed to take care of us, you’re the oldest. If you leave I have to take care of Mom and all the kids, I can’t… I just can’t… Jesus, answer me!”
Her voice broke. She wasn’t crying, but the tears were there all the same.
“Oh, God, why did you take my brother away?” Belle fell silent, her words echoing across the quiet aisle. Backing away, she staring uncertainly around her.
Those watching did not clap, it hadn’t been a performance. Instead, they crossed themselves and nodded.
And while those who were faithful knelt to pray, she who was broken ran.