Artist: Elisete
Language: Hebrew
{To listen to this song, click here.}
Watching the road from her sixth story apartment, Chastity feels empty. Though a month has past, Pele's words still ring in her ears: "I can't stay here anymore, Chassi. I love you--you know I love you--but this place is just too small. There's not enough here for me anymore."
Clutching the envelope that smells of Pele's perfume, she strains to find something pleasant to think about. Anything to stop the tears from coming! But in utter revolt, her brain conjures only images of Pele.Their day at the lake.
Their impromptu forest adventures.
And, of course, the first day they met.
In one deep breath, she closes her eyes and rips open the envelope. She opens her eyes warily, expectant of another life-changing declaration--this time through a card, but instead she finds that the envelope is filled with pictures.
As she gingerly removes the first image, she notices something written on the back. Flipping the photograph, she is greeted by Pele's beautifully hasty handwriting:
Chassi,
I saw an old woman selling raspberries on the street in a town nearby. They reminded me of the time we made raspberry cocktails and roamed until sunrise.
Despite herself, Chastity laughs aloud at the memory. When they were just below the state of drunken immobility, they tottered out of the apartment building twirling and giggling down the road until Celino found them and, with a struggle, drove them back home.
Somewhat eager, she retrieves the next photograph. One hand reflexively grazes her back, as she flips it over:
People here ask me about my tattoo, and I always laugh and tell them that I got it because someone wanted to spite me.
Chastity smirks at the thought of their nearly identical butterfly tattoos. It was her impromptu plan to prove to Pele that she had a good pain threshold. Of course, that was a lie, and she cried like a five-year-old through most of the ordeal; but she forced herself to sit through it until the last "e" in Pele was etched over the design.
As a consolation offering, Pele got an identical tattoo with "Chassi" etched over the art.
***
And, of course, the first day they met.
In one deep breath, she closes her eyes and rips open the envelope. She opens her eyes warily, expectant of another life-changing declaration--this time through a card, but instead she finds that the envelope is filled with pictures.
As she gingerly removes the first image, she notices something written on the back. Flipping the photograph, she is greeted by Pele's beautifully hasty handwriting:
Chassi,
I saw an old woman selling raspberries on the street in a town nearby. They reminded me of the time we made raspberry cocktails and roamed until sunrise.
Despite herself, Chastity laughs aloud at the memory. When they were just below the state of drunken immobility, they tottered out of the apartment building twirling and giggling down the road until Celino found them and, with a struggle, drove them back home.
Somewhat eager, she retrieves the next photograph. One hand reflexively grazes her back, as she flips it over:
People here ask me about my tattoo, and I always laugh and tell them that I got it because someone wanted to spite me.
Chastity smirks at the thought of their nearly identical butterfly tattoos. It was her impromptu plan to prove to Pele that she had a good pain threshold. Of course, that was a lie, and she cried like a five-year-old through most of the ordeal; but she forced herself to sit through it until the last "e" in Pele was etched over the design.
As a consolation offering, Pele got an identical tattoo with "Chassi" etched over the art.
When she views the next picture, memories bombard her. She flips it over cautiously, afraid the words will bring back the tears:
There's an open field at the edge of town. I've explored it with some friends, but some nights, I just want to stay out there forever--falling asleep in a blanket of grass. It wouldn't be the same , though, without you.
Chasity feels her eyes brimming as she recalls the many nights the two of them spent lying in fields and watching the stars. The day before Pele declared she was leaving, they slept outside. Counting clouds until sunset and stars until midnight.
When she pulls out the last photograph, she is slightly surprised. Because it is Pele--beautiful as always, but less vibrant than she recalls. The back contains more words than any of the other photos:
I know what you said, and I know what I said, but, Chassi, I still love you, and I can't live totally cut off from you, like this. I'm not asking you to leave, because I know you can't; but I am asking you to not give up on me. I love this big city. I love this life. But it'll never be complete without you.
One day, I'll find a place small enough for you and big enough for me with a nice open field for us to explore and we can live there until we're old and gray. But until I do, don't lose hope in me--in us.
Love forever,
Pele
Through her tears, Chastity smiles. She was planning to wait all along.
Chasity feels her eyes brimming as she recalls the many nights the two of them spent lying in fields and watching the stars. The day before Pele declared she was leaving, they slept outside. Counting clouds until sunset and stars until midnight.
When she pulls out the last photograph, she is slightly surprised. Because it is Pele--beautiful as always, but less vibrant than she recalls. The back contains more words than any of the other photos:
I know what you said, and I know what I said, but, Chassi, I still love you, and I can't live totally cut off from you, like this. I'm not asking you to leave, because I know you can't; but I am asking you to not give up on me. I love this big city. I love this life. But it'll never be complete without you.
One day, I'll find a place small enough for you and big enough for me with a nice open field for us to explore and we can live there until we're old and gray. But until I do, don't lose hope in me--in us.
Love forever,
Pele
Through her tears, Chastity smiles. She was planning to wait all along.
***
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