Prompt - Haunting. Empty Echoes by Elwendell

[elwendell]

Prompt: Haunting
Title: Empty Echoes
Character: Lan Zhan
Rating: G
Warnings: None


Empty echoes

Summoned, Hanguanjun sets guqin before him and hovers fingers over finest silk strings. He can do it almost without thinking now. Summon the spirit. Ask it's name. Determine it's reason for haunting. Help it move on. His fingers pluck without conscious volition, a portion of his mind analysing while another part.

Another part hopes that this haunting is the one, listens for the familiar voice; tries to catch the wild shrill of flute, scent of lotus blossom, the firm grasp of fingers at his wrist. But here is only the dry dust of anothers' pain, empty echo of his own.

END

Comments

[hhimring]

Such a sad final sentence!
But it is a comfort for the reader to know that this state of things will not last forever.

[elwendell]

Thanks for reading. You know how I love a good helping of angst. At least the story does have a happy ending.

[bonibaru]

Poignant; this really brought tears to my eyes. It just goes to show how much can be said and emotions deeply felt in so little space. Very well crafted!

[elwendell]

Thank you very much. I had honestly forgotten that I had written this. It's good to know someone new has discovered it.