Ode to a Willow (CA - Willowman)
Quote from Indy on July 30, 2020, 1:32 pmThe man was inconsolable. The hard sob became a low ache as the tears ran dry, and lacking for want of anything else to do, fell into an uneasy sleep.
He did not speak for many more days, although watched the woman intently with uneasy eyes. He was otherwise an obedient patient when watched, but the opposite of such when not. By the second day of his rising, he succeeded in his desire of removing the IV drip. By uneasy compromise, it was accepted as long as he swallowed the medication given to him after careful explanation of its purpose in the body.
Almost two weeks since he'd first been brought into Amelia's care, and he sat upright without assistance, reading one of the many novels she had provided to him. It was strange to see a change on his demeanor. It had not come all at once, but had rather been won slowly over those very weeks; but to see him sitting so casually with the book, flipping the pages as he read them, it was easy to imagine him as he once must have been.
Willowman placed a bookmark in the novel, Alice in Wonderland, and set it carefully on the bed stand. He watched Amelia, the words almost seeming to spill out from him just by expression alone, yet still he watched her voicelessly.
The man was inconsolable. The hard sob became a low ache as the tears ran dry, and lacking for want of anything else to do, fell into an uneasy sleep.
He did not speak for many more days, although watched the woman intently with uneasy eyes. He was otherwise an obedient patient when watched, but the opposite of such when not. By the second day of his rising, he succeeded in his desire of removing the IV drip. By uneasy compromise, it was accepted as long as he swallowed the medication given to him after careful explanation of its purpose in the body.
Almost two weeks since he'd first been brought into Amelia's care, and he sat upright without assistance, reading one of the many novels she had provided to him. It was strange to see a change on his demeanor. It had not come all at once, but had rather been won slowly over those very weeks; but to see him sitting so casually with the book, flipping the pages as he read them, it was easy to imagine him as he once must have been.
Willowman placed a bookmark in the novel, Alice in Wonderland, and set it carefully on the bed stand. He watched Amelia, the words almost seeming to spill out from him just by expression alone, yet still he watched her voicelessly.
Quote from Adriana on July 30, 2020, 4:12 pm“It’s a lot like that, isn’t it?” Amelia nodded towards the book. She was wearing a baggy faded pink sweatshirt, and jeans again. “I can only imagine what you’re feeling. The world changes no matter what perspective you’re coming from-my world has been flipped around before, too.”
“I think it’s still a little upside down.” she added thoughtfully, laughing lightly to herself.
”If I bring you a dinner menu, will you choose something tonight? I know you must be tired of soup.” now she stood, already getting up to fetch one. She left the room and came back not a minute later with a small paper menu.
"There aren't a lot of options, since we're a small facility... soups tend to be the most popular, but there's different kinds... our chef makes a pretty mean grilled cheese and tomato soup." she handed him the menu and pointed out a couple of different options. Salads, grilled chicken and steak were also available. "It's all good here, not frozen dinner, hospital type of food."
“It’s a lot like that, isn’t it?” Amelia nodded towards the book. She was wearing a baggy faded pink sweatshirt, and jeans again. “I can only imagine what you’re feeling. The world changes no matter what perspective you’re coming from-my world has been flipped around before, too.”
“I think it’s still a little upside down.” she added thoughtfully, laughing lightly to herself.
”If I bring you a dinner menu, will you choose something tonight? I know you must be tired of soup.” now she stood, already getting up to fetch one. She left the room and came back not a minute later with a small paper menu.
"There aren't a lot of options, since we're a small facility... soups tend to be the most popular, but there's different kinds... our chef makes a pretty mean grilled cheese and tomato soup." she handed him the menu and pointed out a couple of different options. Salads, grilled chicken and steak were also available. "It's all good here, not frozen dinner, hospital type of food."
Quote from Indy on July 30, 2020, 9:31 pmWillowman watched Amelia without response, yet the urgent word in his eyes settled. It was as though something had been heard - though it hadn't been said - and for a moment he consigned himself to a subtle sigh.
He did not reply as Amelia disappeared and re-appeared with a menu shortly after. He took the menu as it was handed to him, but he did not glance over the paper. Instead, he glanced passed Amelia to the small sliver of light from where the door had been softly shut behind her.
The lights in the room were dim, but had grown in intensity during the last week to warrant reading light. Yet the thin sliver of light outside only served to remind him of what had once seemed ordinary. He fixated his dark eyes on it, feeling a faint shudder of his most recent encounter.
On his third day of rising, shortly after extracting the tubes from his arm, he'd decided to make his escape when the woman had left to grab his medication. He hadn't even made it five yards down the hallway until the brightness had seemed to lunge out at him, tearing at his eyes, crawling on his skin. Amelia had retrieved him in what had seemed an eternity later, guiding him back to the sweet darkness. He hadn't tried the hall again, after that.
Hesitantly, he cleared his throat.
"Where.... am I?"
Willowman watched Amelia without response, yet the urgent word in his eyes settled. It was as though something had been heard - though it hadn't been said - and for a moment he consigned himself to a subtle sigh.
He did not reply as Amelia disappeared and re-appeared with a menu shortly after. He took the menu as it was handed to him, but he did not glance over the paper. Instead, he glanced passed Amelia to the small sliver of light from where the door had been softly shut behind her.
The lights in the room were dim, but had grown in intensity during the last week to warrant reading light. Yet the thin sliver of light outside only served to remind him of what had once seemed ordinary. He fixated his dark eyes on it, feeling a faint shudder of his most recent encounter.
On his third day of rising, shortly after extracting the tubes from his arm, he'd decided to make his escape when the woman had left to grab his medication. He hadn't even made it five yards down the hallway until the brightness had seemed to lunge out at him, tearing at his eyes, crawling on his skin. Amelia had retrieved him in what had seemed an eternity later, guiding him back to the sweet darkness. He hadn't tried the hall again, after that.
Hesitantly, he cleared his throat.
"Where.... am I?"
Quote from Adriana on July 30, 2020, 10:07 pm“Floating between two worlds, half way down the rabbit hole.” Amelia said somewhat solemnly. Then flicked her hand as if shooing a fly.
”Truthfully, you’re safe-but where we are isn’t easy to point at on a map. We just call it home.”
Now she looked thoughtfully at Willowman.
”I could bring you some shades and show you around?”
“Floating between two worlds, half way down the rabbit hole.” Amelia said somewhat solemnly. Then flicked her hand as if shooing a fly.
”Truthfully, you’re safe-but where we are isn’t easy to point at on a map. We just call it home.”
Now she looked thoughtfully at Willowman.
”I could bring you some shades and show you around?”
Quote from Indy on July 30, 2020, 10:33 pmWillowman considered this without a twitch. He watched Amelia several seconds before he responded. Then, near imperceptibly, he tilted his head in acceptance of her offer.
Willowman considered this without a twitch. He watched Amelia several seconds before he responded. Then, near imperceptibly, he tilted his head in acceptance of her offer.
Quote from Adriana on July 31, 2020, 7:09 pmAmelia uncrossed her arms and nodded with a small smile. She left the room again, this time gone for a few more minutes. She returned with an old red ball-cap and from inside of that she withdrew a pair of aviator glasses, offering them both to Willowman.
-- --
When he did leave the room, he wouldn't find the usual cold atmosphere of a hospital clinic. Rather there were wood floors and warm toned walls. In spite of his earlier encounter with the lights, they truly weren't the bright, florescent hospital lights - they were just regular light fixtures with a warm, albeit bright glow.
"We don't have many rooms, thankfully we don't need to see many people at once... there are three in this wing and three in the other." she gestured down the hall to the one on the other side. Across from the door to Willowman's room and consequently the other two rooms in the same hall, was a small living area - it had a loveseat and two chairs, walls lined with books and paintings, and a small fireplace. There was a counter with a coffee maker and a small fridge, a few cupboards above them. The opposite end of the hall would mirror this.
"That other door is all medical supplies.. we can take care of anything short of an organ transplant."
Between both hallways was an elevator against the back wall, and then opposite of that were two staircases winding down to meet at the bottom.
Down below to the left was a kitchen, separated from the common space by a long island, where many pots and pans hung overhead. Outside of the kitchen-space in the common area were a couple of simple round tables and cushioned chairs. Opposite that, there looked to be French doors- those led to an office space. Another living space was downstairs, with more comfortable sofas and chairs, and another hearth-this one larger.
The most queer thing about the space, was the lack of windows and doors-there seemed to be no front entry, or any entry for that matter.
Amelia uncrossed her arms and nodded with a small smile. She left the room again, this time gone for a few more minutes. She returned with an old red ball-cap and from inside of that she withdrew a pair of aviator glasses, offering them both to Willowman.
-- --
When he did leave the room, he wouldn't find the usual cold atmosphere of a hospital clinic. Rather there were wood floors and warm toned walls. In spite of his earlier encounter with the lights, they truly weren't the bright, florescent hospital lights - they were just regular light fixtures with a warm, albeit bright glow.
"We don't have many rooms, thankfully we don't need to see many people at once... there are three in this wing and three in the other." she gestured down the hall to the one on the other side. Across from the door to Willowman's room and consequently the other two rooms in the same hall, was a small living area - it had a loveseat and two chairs, walls lined with books and paintings, and a small fireplace. There was a counter with a coffee maker and a small fridge, a few cupboards above them. The opposite end of the hall would mirror this.
"That other door is all medical supplies.. we can take care of anything short of an organ transplant."
Between both hallways was an elevator against the back wall, and then opposite of that were two staircases winding down to meet at the bottom.
Down below to the left was a kitchen, separated from the common space by a long island, where many pots and pans hung overhead. Outside of the kitchen-space in the common area were a couple of simple round tables and cushioned chairs. Opposite that, there looked to be French doors- those led to an office space. Another living space was downstairs, with more comfortable sofas and chairs, and another hearth-this one larger.
The most queer thing about the space, was the lack of windows and doors-there seemed to be no front entry, or any entry for that matter.
Quote from Indy on July 31, 2020, 9:17 pmThe willowy man clung to Amelia, not unlike a small child to his mother. The impression came from more than just posture; the loose cotton sweats he wore fit him lengthwise, but swam in every other direction. Yet rather than possessing a body that had grown suddenly large, he had done the opposite. He was a man made child again, taking in sights once-familiar but suddenly new and alien to him.
He investigated the walls by touch, the smoothness and coolness providing familiar comfort. He considered the stuffed armchair as well, but evidently thought the prospect too much and thus contented himself with his lot. He followed Amelia obediently as she pointed out different aspects of the room, yet beyond the briefest of glances, he seemed to pay them little mind.
As they exited their wing, Willowman found a curious sight. It was a man, he supposed, though his clothes wore him more than the other way around. The man’s skin on his face and neck was tallow, lined with both old scars and week-old scabs. His hair was wild and untamed, the hair only haphazardly cut and his beard patchy and long. He reached his fingers outwards towards the man, and found the man’s gloved hands also reached out. When he met the surface, he felt only the cold, smooth surface. The man and Willowman sighed with resignation, for they were one of the same.
Willowman considered the stranger in the mirror a moment longer, touching the most troubling element of all: the strange patchiness that was his beard. He supposed it ought be managed, and yet he had neither trusted Amelia to wield a razor nor she him. Then he pulled away, the image out of sight if not out of mind and returned to his caretaker’s lead.
The willowy man clung to Amelia, not unlike a small child to his mother. The impression came from more than just posture; the loose cotton sweats he wore fit him lengthwise, but swam in every other direction. Yet rather than possessing a body that had grown suddenly large, he had done the opposite. He was a man made child again, taking in sights once-familiar but suddenly new and alien to him.
He investigated the walls by touch, the smoothness and coolness providing familiar comfort. He considered the stuffed armchair as well, but evidently thought the prospect too much and thus contented himself with his lot. He followed Amelia obediently as she pointed out different aspects of the room, yet beyond the briefest of glances, he seemed to pay them little mind.
As they exited their wing, Willowman found a curious sight. It was a man, he supposed, though his clothes wore him more than the other way around. The man’s skin on his face and neck was tallow, lined with both old scars and week-old scabs. His hair was wild and untamed, the hair only haphazardly cut and his beard patchy and long. He reached his fingers outwards towards the man, and found the man’s gloved hands also reached out. When he met the surface, he felt only the cold, smooth surface. The man and Willowman sighed with resignation, for they were one of the same.
Willowman considered the stranger in the mirror a moment longer, touching the most troubling element of all: the strange patchiness that was his beard. He supposed it ought be managed, and yet he had neither trusted Amelia to wield a razor nor she him. Then he pulled away, the image out of sight if not out of mind and returned to his caretaker’s lead.
Quote from Adriana on August 1, 2020, 4:38 pmAmelia had paused, staring back at the man who was seeing himself for the first time in what must have been weeks. As she tried to imagine what he must be feeling, she subconsciously reached up and traced the scar across her face with a fingertip.
When he returned by her side she smiled,
"Time changes everything in some way or another. But character weathers the greatest of storms; age, abuse, heartbreak. Mirrors don't show character."
--
Amelia guided him back to his room after the tour had concluded. Dinner was breakfast - downstairs they were preparing bacon and blueberry pancakes, eggs, and orange juice.
The woman dismissed herself briefly and returned a few minutes later with a small zipped up black bag which she offered to the Willowman. Inside, was a bottle of shaving cream and a simple razor, and an oil aftershave.
"Be careful with it. I'll be right across the hall if you need anything."
Amelia had paused, staring back at the man who was seeing himself for the first time in what must have been weeks. As she tried to imagine what he must be feeling, she subconsciously reached up and traced the scar across her face with a fingertip.
When he returned by her side she smiled,
"Time changes everything in some way or another. But character weathers the greatest of storms; age, abuse, heartbreak. Mirrors don't show character."
--
Amelia guided him back to his room after the tour had concluded. Dinner was breakfast - downstairs they were preparing bacon and blueberry pancakes, eggs, and orange juice.
The woman dismissed herself briefly and returned a few minutes later with a small zipped up black bag which she offered to the Willowman. Inside, was a bottle of shaving cream and a simple razor, and an oil aftershave.
"Be careful with it. I'll be right across the hall if you need anything."
Quote from Indy on August 1, 2020, 10:24 pmWillowman took the object in hand, rolling it over in his spindly grip. By the time he had worked the zipper open with a gentle touch had removed his gloves, Amelia had retreated out the room. For the first time in those few weeks, he felt perfectly alone.
The shaving cream smeared easily enough on his fingers, fragrant cool to the touch. Next he whiffed some of the aftershave, noting the smell to be familiar to him in some way he could not place. And finally the razor.
It was a simple plastic object with three blades. He frowned at it, glancing around the room as if searching for hidden demons around the corner. But nothing stirred. Not that he didn't think there weren't cameras somewhere around the room and that Amelia couldn't be on him in a second.
Nonetheless he went to the mirror of the small bathroom attached to his room, working a lather into his face and gently peeling away the beard from his face. The follicles fell in thick clumps at the bottom. The face was still a stranger's that peered back, but less strange. He applied the aftershave, noting the skin to feel smooth and unblemished. As he stepped away, he felt himself trembling to have what felt the weight of the mountain fall aside so easily into the sink.
Hide it, she said, Before the woman returns.
He turned the razor in his hand, mind spinning. His cheeks felt moist giddy tears ran down his cheeks, his breath almost frantic. Nonetheless he quickly wiped them aside- he never ignored the mountain's voice, for like many women, she would take offense for her wisdom to fall on deaf ears. The razor was stashed inside the dresser behind the drawers where it could not be found unless intentionally sought and fought for. He nodded to himself, ignoring the tiniest sense of doubt in the back of his mind. After all, the mountain had never failed to keep him alive.
Willowman took the object in hand, rolling it over in his spindly grip. By the time he had worked the zipper open with a gentle touch had removed his gloves, Amelia had retreated out the room. For the first time in those few weeks, he felt perfectly alone.
The shaving cream smeared easily enough on his fingers, fragrant cool to the touch. Next he whiffed some of the aftershave, noting the smell to be familiar to him in some way he could not place. And finally the razor.
It was a simple plastic object with three blades. He frowned at it, glancing around the room as if searching for hidden demons around the corner. But nothing stirred. Not that he didn't think there weren't cameras somewhere around the room and that Amelia couldn't be on him in a second.
Nonetheless he went to the mirror of the small bathroom attached to his room, working a lather into his face and gently peeling away the beard from his face. The follicles fell in thick clumps at the bottom. The face was still a stranger's that peered back, but less strange. He applied the aftershave, noting the skin to feel smooth and unblemished. As he stepped away, he felt himself trembling to have what felt the weight of the mountain fall aside so easily into the sink.
Hide it, she said, Before the woman returns.
He turned the razor in his hand, mind spinning. His cheeks felt moist giddy tears ran down his cheeks, his breath almost frantic. Nonetheless he quickly wiped them aside- he never ignored the mountain's voice, for like many women, she would take offense for her wisdom to fall on deaf ears. The razor was stashed inside the dresser behind the drawers where it could not be found unless intentionally sought and fought for. He nodded to himself, ignoring the tiniest sense of doubt in the back of his mind. After all, the mountain had never failed to keep him alive.
Quote from Adriana on August 2, 2020, 8:40 amWhen Amelia returned, she was carrying a platter of warm food. She sat it on Willowman's bed before turning to see him, newly shaved and looking-his expression was hard to read; it was a mix of somber and pleased.
Amelia took her usual seat near the bed and picked up a book she had been reading, resting it in her lap and folding her hands over it.
"You've got a face under all that beard after all," she chuckled, "It's a good face. Maybe we could get your hair trimmed proper soon, even comb it back a little."
When Amelia returned, she was carrying a platter of warm food. She sat it on Willowman's bed before turning to see him, newly shaved and looking-his expression was hard to read; it was a mix of somber and pleased.
Amelia took her usual seat near the bed and picked up a book she had been reading, resting it in her lap and folding her hands over it.
"You've got a face under all that beard after all," she chuckled, "It's a good face. Maybe we could get your hair trimmed proper soon, even comb it back a little."
