Once Beloved

by Ana Cristina

My once beloved queen is at the window, her pale heart-shaped face reflected in the glass. Her posture is perfect, as always, her diminutive figure austere. Poised. From this distance I cannot see her eyes, but I envision the pain swimming in the black pools of her irises. She gives no outward sign of the poison that is at this very moment eating away at her. I wonder if she knows that she is dying.

“Night blooming mushroom,” the imperial doctor told me as he drew the black bulb out of his bag and placed it in my hand. “Very poisonous.” It crouched on my open palm like a deadly spider, ready to pounce and deliver its venom. “The intended victim should drink tea distilled with its essence every six hours, and within 72 hours he will suffer irreparable heart damage and fall into a coma.”

“Can she—I mean, he awaken from the coma?”

“No, the effect is terminal. Once the poison reaches the heart, he will surely die.”

“Good.”

A fitting end for a traitorous wife. For one who gave her heart away so freely.

Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Once Beloved

    Batak Beatrix's Buddy Icon Batak Beatrix

    Posted 11 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    And people wonder why I don’t want to get married. Again, I like your descriptions and turn of phrase.

  2. Once Beloved

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 11 months ago

    Ha! Thanks. ;)

  3. Once Beloved

    Kiarra's Buddy Icon Kiarra

    Posted 11 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    dang…I dont see how people can do things like that

  4. Once Beloved

    someday_93's Buddy Icon someday_93

    Posted 11 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I like the change in point of view…this is amazing. But like Kiarra said…how can people do things like that?

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