Wednesday, August 17, 2022

WEP - Moonlight Sonata

 



Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash



Goddess of the Night

I'm a practical, well-educated man and an athlete that enjoys a challenge, adventure, and travel. It's why I joined the Navy after 9 11.

But after twenty years in the service and giving my best in the fight for freedom. The exodus from Afghanistan exposed a weakness. I began questioning my choices. Retirement from command was my solution. However, the change wasn't easy. I sought direction at the Meher Spiritual Center of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I wanted peace and healing from what I saw as a spiritual crisis.

Now I'm wondering if I've completely lost my mind.

After a week of meditation and silence, I began to see a new path to my future. On Friday, August 11, the evening of the sturgeon moon, I took a healing walk along the ocean. This night as it was explained, was the season of Leo. Astrologers claim the August moon stands for perseverance and the ability to adapt with time and change just like the sturgeon. Tonight, was all about going inward. Clearing the ballast and making room for opportunity. Which I was open to.


The evening was hot, but the breeze off the ocean made it comfortable. I had a flashlight to help me find the way, but once the moon was high, the light was brilliant and my walk invigorating. Then I heard music, faint at first, but the further south I moved, the more recognizable the tune became.

Then, it dawned. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata was being played. Even though I was no longer on the property of the Spiritual Center. I kept walking south. The area was privately owned, but I just had to know who was playing this hauntingly beautiful piece.

I came around a high dune and stopped in my tracks.

Standing in the direct rays of the Sturgeon Moon stood an angel. Or was she a mermaid turned human? It didn't matter. Her beauty captivated. She wore a gown of brilliant white trimmed in gold. Her arms were raised to the heavens as though in worship. I thought she was praying.

Her long luxurious hair was the same color as the moon, red with glimmering gold highlights. The breeze lifted the tresses, caressed them, then laid them carefully across lightly tanned shoulders. She was perfection.

Her feet were bare, and the surf kissed her toes lightly, reverently. Watching her, I was frozen in place.

The Moonlight Sonata flowed in an evocative lament.

When she turned toward me, I saw tears on her cheeks, shimmery diamonds she quickly brushed away. What could bring this beautiful goddess to tears?

She smiled, and her deep blue eyes held me fast. Suddenly I was drowning. I felt the cool, clear water pulling my willing body deeper into its depths. Fighting for breath. Her smile calmed me.

Though my heart raced. I relaxed as she moved toward me. Was she walking or gliding across the sand? Did it matter? No, not at that moment, for I knew instantly that she was a gift from God. The answer to my prayers. My future.

Communication went beyond words. Clasped in an embrace, our bodies were one. I could feel her heart beating as furiously as my own. When our lips met in a kiss, the word ecstasy would never describe our response or the carnal nature of our union. The world, the entire universe disappeared, and we were alone. Soaring through a cosmos of indescribable color and beauty, the Moonlight Sonata played its soulful refrain, and we rediscovered our love.

In that kiss, I uncovered the past, saw our future, and recalled our eonian vow of love eternal. She was mine, and I, forever hers. If she'd come to me as a succubus, vampire, or the living dead, I would have willingly given her all and more.

Then the music ended. I opened my eyes, and she was gone. I stood there, unbelieving. Confused. Even the moon had disappeared behind clouds that hadn't existed before that moment.

But she was here, and in the flesh, my moonlit goddess. I could still feel the warmth of her lips, the softness of her skin, the silkiness of her honey-colored hair, and the want in her kiss.

Her absence left me hollow as though she'd taken my soul. But it was my heart that she stole.

I searched until dawn but failed in my quest. Was my goddess a dream? A siren of the Moonlight Sonata or my heart's yearning made flesh under the thrall of a full moon?

Yolanda Renee © 2022

754 words/ FCA

Photo by Rafael Alcure on Unsplash

Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash

This is the beginning of a love story I hope to turn into a novel.

I would love to know your thoughts.


Tagline: Moonlight thrall or real-life goddess?

XXX



34 comments:

Debbie D. said...

Totally captivating, especially the last line! I'd love to read more. Beautiful!

Elephant's Child said...

Utterly haunting - and I would love to read more.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I was super surprised at what direction the story was going in. It sounds like a great start to a new story.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi, I hope you turn this into a love story. It is absolutely engaging. I was with you till the very last sentence. Outstanding job. Shalom aleichem

Jemi Fraser said...

Yes, please! That would make a great novel!

Olga Godim said...

I would definitely want to know more. A longer story is a must in this case. Who is this mysterious woman? Fairy? Vampire?

N. R. Williams said...

I like the story and the questions at the end were the same ones I thought. If you do turn it into a story, spend a little more time with your hero before he meets the lady. Is he fully retired or does he have a day job? Does he live in a house, condo or an apartment. Also, is she singing the song or is it playing close-by? Good luck.
Nancy

Michael Di Gesu said...

Wonderful story! I totally think this can be turned into your next novel. I enjoyed the mysticism of it... Well done, Renee!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Haunting. And he is still searching for answers...

L.G. Keltner said...

Your story is beautifully written and has me wondering who or what this beautiful woman is. Great take on the prompt!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Debbie. The positive response has me eager to write more.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Sue, I hope to have more soon!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Natalie, Soon, very soon!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Pat, from the Queen of Romance, that means a lot!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank Jemi, it would round out the 3 novels for Myrtle Beach. Now just to finish...

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Olga, she's very real. Her story is next.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Nancy, all backstory that will play out through the novel.

Yolanda Renée said...

It'll be fun to try to write it without a murder. LOL Thanks Michael!

Yolanda Renée said...

The goal will be to make his search interesting and fun for the reader. Thanks Alex!

Yolanda Renée said...

I can't wait to answer that question, thanks Laura!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Oh yes, definitely a novel! You raise intriguing questions with this piece and I was drawn in. The hints at backstory add quite a bit to it. The battle-hardened man sucked into a romance with a sprinkle of magic.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Renee - lots of support here ... the story was very enticing and I can definitely see a longer novel following ... with lots of interesting strands to take us with you and your characters. Cheers Hilary

Denise Covey said...

You had me in thrall, Renee. Is this going to be your romance set in Myrtle Beach? Awesome start if it is. You drew me in and I'm thirsty for more. This piece is evocative. (Romance is the biggest seller, remember.)

Damyanti Biswas said...

Oh my God! This story has me hooked, I wish there was more.

Michelle Wallace said...

I was sucked in by her appearance: "gown of brilliant white trimmed in gold... arms were raised to the heavens... glimmering gold highlights" and now I want the whole story!

Christopher Scott Author said...

A beautiful and imaginative tale. Well done, Yolanda

Nilanjana Bose said...

This is beautiful, evocative and engaging. I particularly liked the blurring of lines between the physical and spiritual and the parallels drawn between the woman and Time. It has a mythological, mystic feel - absolutely mesmerising. I'd respectfully disagree about spending more time with the mc before the meeting - all the details anchoring him into Afghanistan, Myrtle Beach, disenchantment with military career etc can come later in the story, they take away from the mystical, other worldly feel of their meeting. My two cents.

Great take on the prompt, floored and totally hooked! :)

Lenny Lee said...

What a captivating and beautifully written story. It pulled me in and hasn’t let go. It begs for more. Nice integration of the prompt.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I could picture myself on the beach, hearing the music, being tempted by the muse.

This is my first time participating in the WEP challenge.
Mary at Play off the Page

A Hundred Quills said...

An absolutely enthralling description, a very strong imagery.
-Sonia

Nick Wilford said...

Beautifully done. I did think of the word "siren" before that appeared at the end, so I thought the ending might be more sinister, but I loved the way you did it. Would be interested to see where this goes now.

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

A beautiful story with some educational aspects. I'd not heard of a sturgeon moon before.

Jamie said...

Perhaps foreshadowing of what's to come. Though not all signs mean something is meant to be. But maybe it is. Anyway, lots of intrigue. Cool story.

Bernadette said...

An intriguing piece. Loved the descriptions.