[stylist] Comments on For One night-story

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Tessa,

Here are my comments, for what they are worth.

Is there a reason, "The night was beautiful," is it's own paragraph? It
fits just fine with your second para.

The sentence beginning, "The governor leaned back in her chair," I would
start a new para there.

You have, "Not that it would make a difference," as it's own para.
Generally single-sentences are not recommended, though not wrong.
Consider joining this sentence with the following para.

Again, "For she knew she never had it to begin with," is a single para.
I get the sense that you are wanting to focus on some importance in
these lines, much like poetry, but personally I find it distracting. It
is a matter of preference though.

Why the apostrophes around, "Why am I doing this,"? Thoughts are usually
in italics or followed by she thought or I thought depending on POV.

In the following, you need a comma before but: The shoes were nothing
special, certainly not the jeweled ones that her father had given her
but they would do for the night's event.  

At, "Emma straightened as best she could," you should break into new
para.

In the following, "on" should be of: The man had always been proud on
how good of an actor he had become over the years.

The following sentence is clunky and not clear. Make sure your sentence
structure is solid, and always be precise: At least that was what he
convinced himself that exhilarating feeling was every time he had to be
near her.

I've noticed your sentences are separated by two spaces, but nowadays a
single space is used, and many publishers and editors prefer the single
space.

In the following, a comma needs to come before Madame: "You requested
that I meet you here Madame?"

When you write, "His tone sounded colder than usual," can you find way
to show this rather than tell? Always find ways in which to describe
things with action as opposed to that inner dialogue. Find a balance
between the two.

Instead of breaking up the dialogue as you do here: "Roger," she began
as he moved towards her wheelchair, "Please, call me Emma."
Try: As he moved towards her, Emma said... Or state the dialogue then
attach the action.

In the following, again, attach the action as it's own sentence then
follow with dialogue. It's not so choppy this way and tends to flow
better. "Roger," Emma's hands went to the wheels of her chair
affectively halting it as she swiftly turned, her hair nearly moving
against his face as her sharp voice said his name, "Call me Emma.  For
this one night please call me Emma. I will explain more once we enter
the dining room." 

He didn't even notice doesn't need any notation since you follow with
she thought, though they need to be combined as a single sentence.

Why do you continue to refer to Roger as *the man*?

In the following, cut the he before quickly: Roger slowly put the tray
down on a nearby table, he quickly returning to Emma's side. 

It's not necessary to point out the following in the narration since
it's obvious. It becomes redundant to place it in the narration: The
weight of his words remained unspoken, neither one wanting to voice how
the story somewhat paralleled with their own sorted relationship.

I like the constant description of the moonlight.

Can the sexual tension be present sooner in this story? There's zero
sexual tension until they actually go to bed, and at the very least,
Emma would feel it before hand. And with all the drinking, I think you
can pull in some of this tension and attraction sooner.

The relationship between Emma and Roger isn't fully-realized yet. We
only have hints at it. I think you need to bring this relationship, both
past and present, into clearer light. If trying to make this a bigger
piece, you can include flashback scenes, but I think it's vital we have
more solid ground to stand on with this relationship, and how Roger
comes to be a servant.

Again, why is Roger still referred to as the man? It seems pointless.

Pay attention to paragraph breaks. You have a lot of places where paras
can be broken.

Your sentence structure isn't always correct. Watch for clunky writing
and make sure it's grammatically correct and structurally sound.

The story and characters are a little flat right now. I think developing
the characters and plot more will bring in more dimensions, breathe some
life into them. Providing more information and back story will help to
give more depth to each.

And if you are going to go for eroticism, you really need to go for it.
The sex scene feels a little stilted and stiff, no pun intended, grin.
Maybe try descriptions that aren't so cliché; find a more lyrical way to
describe it. But just go all out no matter what. And again, bring in
some sexual tension sooner.

Others have pointed out specifics that I won't address, but I think you
have a good idea with this story. Having seen the musical and read the
books, it was difficult for me to separate the differences and
distinctions, but you certainly have created an imaginative tale here.
Good job, and looking forward to more from you.

Bridgit

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:06:41 -0400
From: <tfurban22 at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] For One night-story
Message-ID: <002b01ce3869$45a4e8c0$d0eeba40$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Hi all,

Below is a fanfiction I wrote, however I wanted to give my dad an
example of my writing.  So, I changed the names and whatnot of the
characters.  This was based on the characters from the musical Wicked.
Nessarose (who I renamed EmmaRose and Boq who I renamed Roger.) 

I hope you will enjoy this.  I copy and paste it because I wasn't sure
about sending attachments and how the list would feel about that. 

Just a bit about the characters background: Emma Rose is the governor of
a land and is in a wheelchair.  Roger is someone she went to school with
and whom she fell in love with.  EmmaRose isn't a popular governor,
enforcing strict laws on her people.  There is more to the plot but I
don't want to give a lot away. 

This is just me having fun with the characters.  If anyone has questions
or anything feel free to contact me.  I'm a bit nervous posting
something to the list but I figure why not I'm sure it has to be done at
some time lol..Not have to, but I bet people get curious.  At least, I
know I am about all of your writings.

 

--..--.---..--

Title: For One Night 

Author: Tessa Urban 

Written: 01/01/2011

..----..-----..-

 

The night was beautiful.

 

Twinkling stars lit up the evening sky and a soft wind blew through the
land.  Gentle snowflakes fluttered to the smooth white earth below the
trees. 

 

EmmaRose sat in her parlor, gazing at the serene scene that was before
her. It was the eve before the New Year and the winter could not have
been more breathtaking than it was at that moment.  The governor leaned
back in her chair, her eyes moving towards the doorway of the room.  She
had asked Roger to meet her here at half past six and it was nearing
that time.  Her hands nervously smoothed any wrinkles out of her
cerulean colored gown and she wheeled herself over towards the mirror in
order to better survey her appearance.

Not that it would make a difference.

EmmaRose knew that it was neither the chair nor her station in life that
Roger did not return her feelings of love and devotion.  It was not the
fact she could not walk nor be a normal housewife that turned Roger's
heart away from her.

For she knew she never had it to begin with.

Nevertheless, she had instructed her female servant to wash and iron her
finest gown, lace her as tight as possible in her corset, fix her auburn
hair and give her face an alabaster glow that would rival the virgin
snow on the ground when hit by the sun. 

'Why am I doing this?'

Emma mused as she glanced down at her feet.  The shoes were nothing
special, certainly not the jeweled ones that her father had given her
but they would do for the night's event.  Emma straightened as best she
could as she tucked a piece of her hair behind an ear.  She had decided
to wear it half up and half down, the tresses framing her pale face and
smoothing over her shoulders. 

So engrossed in looking at herself she jumped as she heard the chime of
the hallway clock signal that it was now half past six.  Emma breathed
as best she could as she heard Roger's footsteps from down the hall.
After glancing at herself once more, the governor turned towards the
doorway and the start of their final night together.

--..--..--.---.---.---..- 

The man had always been proud on how good of an actor he had become over
the years. 

He knew his script like the pages of his favorite childhood book, and
his days with her were always routine to the point where his responses,
movements and reactions were all automatic.  It was as if he had gotten
to the point that he could switch off his emotions in dealing with the
governor so that the only one left was loathing. 

At least that was what he convinced himself that exhilarating feeling
was every time he had to be near her.  A small part of him did care for
her, yet that same part knew that it was the pregovernor Emma that he
longed for. Though he could never admit to himself that he loved her, a
genuine feeling of warmth he had once felt for certain. 

However, when he walked in to the parlor that evening he was not
expecting the sight that greeted his eyes.  He blinked before composing
himself, straightening out the collar of his brown servant's uniform
before speaking.


"You requested that I meet you here Madame?"

His tone sounded colder than usual to his ears; however he could
contribute that to the low fire that burned in the fireplace across the
room. 

"Roger," she began as he moved towards her wheelchair, "Please, call me
Emma." 

"Of course," he replied as he took hold of the chair's handles, "Shall
we go to the dining room Madame?" 

"Roger," Emma's hands went to the wheels of her chair affectively
halting it as she swiftly turned, her hair nearly moving against his
face as her sharp voice said his name, "Call me Emma.  For this one
night please call me Emma. I will explain more once we enter the dining
room." 

"Yes, Madame," was his cold reply as the governor released her hold and
the two of them started moving again.  The visible flinch that went
through Emma at his tone not going unnoticed by the servant.

'He didn't even comment.'

She thought as Roger slowly pushed her down the hall.  Emma had expected
something, a look or something simple however it did not come to pass. 

'You did not complement her.'

The man contemplated as they neared the dining room. 

'Is it truly that difficult in giving a nice word to her?' 

Roger sighed as he glanced down at his feet clearly annoyed at the part
of him that often tried to resurface when EmmaRose was concerned.

The place in his mind that would not leave him well enough alone.
Especially when she looked so beautiful and wonderful in that gown.
Although he had only briefly looked at her, it was clearly in his memory
and it disturbed him a great deal.

Roger moved her chair through the door with ease as he situated the
governor at the large table.

"I will go and get your tea," Roger said as he disappeared through the
doorway before the woman had a chance to object. 

'Does a slave complement a mistress?' 

Roger thought as the silence was only broken by his footfalls returning
towards the room as he carried a tray with the Governor's tea.  The
manservant was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he failed to notice
all the other objects on the neatly organized table that he froze in
movement as he gazed around the room.

For it seemed to the young man that a wrench of some sort had been
thrown in his daily routine.

This was not part of the script at all, not something that he had been
expecting.  For the first time in the candle light of the dining room,
Roger clearly looked at Emma and his surroundings.  Various dishes of
food were neatly situated on the table, more candles were lit than was
usual and to his amazement instead of her normal tea a glass of wine sat
firmly in the governor's place.

Roger slowly put the tray down on a nearby table, he quickly returning
to Emma's side. 

"Roger, would you please sit down?" 

Her voice was soft, a light yet sad smile graced her face as Roger
walked around to the other side of the table and sat where his place
setting had been put.

"What is going on?" 

"Pour some wine," the governor indicated the bottle as she poured
herself a glass and handed it to a stunned Roger, "I am told it is the
finest in the land."

"I see," the man replied as he poured a lesser amount than Emma had in
her glass, "What is the meaning of all this?"

"You will find out my reasoning tomorrow," Emma replied as she sipped
her wine, "I have the first day of the new year all planned out.  The
only thing I planned about this night was the dinner." 

"What is happening?  What has gotten in to you?" 

This matter of fact tone she was using was starting to build a feeling
of dread in the pit of his stomach.  Instead of sounding like the woman
she was when the two of them were alone, she was sounding like she was
conducting a business meeting.  She had an air of finality about her and
this greatly worried Roger.

"Are you making new laws against the Mubite people?" 

"Yes," Emma replied as she smiled, "They will begin tomorrow-" 

"That is what this is all about?  What the bloody hell is left for you
to take away from us?!  We don't have many rights to start thanks to you
and your father-" 

"Shut up!" Emma screamed as her voice echoed around them. 

"Listen to me!  Please Roger, please don't leave.  You have my word that
if you stay it will be worth your while." 

That last statement stopped the man from rising from the table
completely. 

"What do you want?" He inquired his voice thick with venom as he
surveyed her.

EmmaRose sighed.  This was not going how she thought it would go.
However, if she mused upon it long enough the governor truly didn't know
what to expect from the man she so passionately loved.  A man that she
had so methodically controlled by oppressing his own people in order to
have by her side.

"I want you," she said quietly as she picked up her glass and downed the
wine in a swift motion, "I want you to make me feel like I am the only
girl in the world." 

A pause was heard as Roger took her words in before saying, "What?" 

"Roger," Emma said as she refilled her wine glass, "Do you truly think I
am stupid?  Do you really think that I am so naive that I believe that
you love me?  That you actually want to be here with me?  That all the
Mubites think I'm wonderful just like the king and that we are so happy?
That you enjoy our time together?" 

A moment of silence was heard as Roger gasped, "What?-" 

Panic was slowly seizing him as he took in her words and cold stare from
across the table. 

"That is why I want you to put on your best show ever.  Make me feel
like I'm the only girl that you will ever love, make me feel like I know
you, like you want me, make me feel like I am the one that has your
heart."

Dumbfounded, Roger stared at the governor as she sipped her wine,
pointing out the various dishes of food with the other hand as she spoke
quickly changing the subject. 

Had he truly under estimated her?  This sweet girl that he had taken to
the Gold Dust ball so few years ago but yet they seemed like a lifetime
to the young man. 

"Roger, Roger?  Are you listening?" 

"What is it Madame?-" 

"No," Emma sharply interrupted him, "I order you to call me EmmaRose or
Emma for the rest of the evening." 

"You cannot order me in how I speak to you." 

"Do you trust me?" 

Her sudden change of subject was to say the least unnerving and it was
Roger's turn to flinch at her words. 

"Do I trust you?  Are we being perfectly honest?" 

"I will take that as a no then." 

"I trust you a little," he said after a moment as his eyes fell on his
dinner plate. 

"Good," Emma said as she fiddled with her silver wear, "I only need a
little bit of trust.  You have my word that if you-" 

"How do I do that?" Roger asked a hint of annoyance to his voice. 

"Eat," Emma answered after a moment as she lifted a lid off of a bowl of
food, "Eat and drink with me as if you want to be here.  Laugh, talk,
relax, love and call me by my name.  I only ask this for one night.  It
is New Year's eve after all and the new law will start tomorrow." 

"Why should I do this for you?" 

"Take my word," Emma replied as she served herself from the various
dishes on the table that were all placed within her reach.  Since Roger
or Leila her female servant were usually the only ones that gave her the
food this action farther surprised Roger.  Not to mention the wine that
the governor was consuming which was a far cry from her honey flavored
tea she always had during the evening meal.

"Alright," he slowly replied as he tasted the sweet wine, "Alright, I
will try my best." 

"That is all I ask.  I promise I will never inquire of you again." 

Roger gave a short laugh, "I suppose that may not be true ma-Emma." 

The woman beamed from across the table from the use of her name as she
placed a bite of food in her mouth.  The man watched her as she began to
eat, he knowing that it was time for him to do as much.  Picking up a
heavy dish filled with the main meal he spooned some out onto his plate.


"This looks great," he said at his first attempt at trying to make a
civil conversation with the woman that infuriated him so much.  He
thought he had done well at concealing his true feelings by trying to
seem cold and distant however Emma had seen right through it.

Although he never voiced his hatred, she had felt it and a sense of
guilt began to wash over him for he knew he had greatly under estimated
her.  The nights he had sought her out if only to stave off the madness
of being without a woman then he leaving her chamber after it had been
quailed for some reason or another she had seen right through it.  She
had known that his need for her had not been the love that she so
desperately longed and craved from him.  The fact that she had known for
God knew how long sickened yet angered him at the same time.

For why had she kept him here with her if everything had been a farce? 

"Roger, did you hear what I said?" 

The man being questioned glanced up sharply as he met her gaze that
suddenly became penetrative since this revelation. 

"I'm sorry Madame," he replied out of habit before clearing his throat,
"I'm sorry EmmaRose, I got lost in thought." 

"It happens to me as well.  Quite a lot actually." 

"So I see," Roger muttered as he picked at his food.

"So," Emma began as she smiled, "I heard that two of my advisors have
decided to get married." 

That was how the majority of the dinner went, the two of them exchanging
small talk about the people they knew or rumors they had heard.  They
spoke of the recipe for the chicken that Leila had prepared and talked
over the dessert that the governor had made herself.

"I just asked Leila for the ingredients and she handed them to me," Emma
said as Roger tasted the warm pie, "How is it?" 

The Mubite grinned after swallowing, "It is quite delicious.  I really
like the apple chunks." 

Emma smiled, "I know.  I remember our picnics back at school." 

"Ah," Roger sighed, "Dear old school.  I will certainly never forget
that place." 

"Nor will I," EmmaRose replied as a surprising comfortable silence fell
between them.  Roger wasn't sure if it was the holiday or the wine but
he was finding it easier to speak with Emma.  It wasn't coming out as
forced as usual.  It was like some unnamed odd feeling had come over the
couple as they ate and drank with one another.

"How do you like the wine?" 

---.---..---.---..- 

The night was still beautiful.

The stars that had once twinkled in the sky were now replaced by a light
fog that covered the land.  A grey mist shrouded the trees, grass and a
thick layer of ice covered the small pond that Emma and Roger now gazed
at from another window in the library. 

"I just think this story is brilliant," Emma remarked as she flipped the
pages of the old book, "They were such a tragic romantic couple.  It is
really sad the two families couldn't put aside their hatred in favor of
love." 

"It is not so easy," Roger replied as he sipped his wine.  The servant
loving the slight warmth and softening of his spirit as he gazed at her.

"They can't forget all that has been done to them by such a family." 

The weight of his words remained unspoken, neither one wanting to voice
how the story somewhat paralleled with their own sorted relationship.

'Why not choose love Roger?' a voice sounded in his mind to which the
servant quieted with another drink. 

Emma sat in her chair, her eyes moving over towards the clock in the
corner of the room.  The chime was almost at the ten o'clock hour as she
turned her gaze back on Roger.

"Tell me," he said his voice soft, "How can you ladies stand to wear
those corsets?" 

Emma laughed as more of the alcohol was poured in to their glasses, "I
don't know, we do it for you men." 

"You don't need to do it for me." 

Emma gave a light smile, "That is a very nice thing to say.  However, I
am tired and the hour is growing late." 

"I suppose I should take you to your chamber then?" Roger inquired as he
rather unsteadily got to his feet. 

Emma giggled, "If you insist, however do be careful." 

"Of course," he leaned down kissing the corner of her mouth, his lips
lingering for a moment longer than was necessary before pulling back him
tasting the sweet wine that she had been drinking. 

"I shall," he began as he started pushing the wheelchair towards the
large oak doors, "I want you in bed safe and sound." 

"Damn it!" Emma shouted as her leg slammed against the doorframe.  She
then tossed her wild hair back, laughing at Roger's attempt at an
apologetic grin. 

"Why is your chamber so high up?" He inquired as he half walked, half
stumbled to her room.

"For God's sake, do you know where you're going?" Emma laughed as Roger
enthusiastically nodded.

"No worries my Rose," he said merrily as the alcohol took full affect,
"We will arrive shortly.  Also, being with you is not so bad.  I mean it
is not really my choice." 

Roger stopped as he leaned against a wall in the corridor, "But you, you
look so beautiful." 

"You know," the woman started as she gazed at him, "I almost believe
you." 

"No, truly believe me.  You are beautiful, sweet, desirable." 

His hand reached over the chair, fingering the neckline of the gown's
bodice before continuing back towards her bedchamber.

---..---.---.---.- 

The night was breathtaking.

Slivers of moonlight could be seen through the window of the governor's
chamber, the heavy velvet curtains were hanging at such an angle that it
let in the bit of moonlight that the fog didn't completely obscure.
Trees swayed in the breeze as the laughing couple finally entered the
room. 

"I thank you ever sweetly for getting me here," she said as she bent
down taking off her shoes, "I ever so appreciate it." 

"Not a problem," he whispered as he stumbled in front of her, lifting
her chin in the palm of his hand as he began to deeply kiss her mouth.
Emma felt her world tilt to one side as his hands reached behind her
form, unclasping the fine gown as it slipped from her shoulders.  It was
then Roger's kisses drew towards that area, eliciting moans from the
governor as his body leaned against her own, the corset quickly giving
way to his surprising steady hands.  It was then she was only in her
chemise when Roger bent and lifted her out of the chair and moved them
both over to the large bed.  The couple's hands were intertwined as
Roger's uniform joined the rest of her clothes on the floor and Emma
sighed as she finally felt his skin on her own. 

"Goodness woman," he whispered breathlessly as he suckled on her neck,
"I want you." 

"Then take me," she replied as her hands moved throughout his hair and
her lips sought his own in the darkness.  Pale hands traced his back and
shoulders as his fervent kisses moved over her skin. 

"I love you Roger," she breathed as he touched her, petting the inside
of her thigh with his fingers as her body arched at his caress.

"Say it," Emma pleaded as she gazed up at his half lidded eyes, "Lie to
me."


For she had not consumed enough to fully believe his lie however she was
getting all of him tonight rather he realized it or not and she was
fully going to take all she could from their last night. 

"My sweet," he said as he situated himself on top of her, "My Emm, my
Rose."


Tears one by one fell from her eyes as she gazed at the most sincere
expression she had ever seen on his countenance, "Emma, I love you." 

It was then he slid down her body, exploring her curves his mind
becoming so cloudy that he reveled in his accomplishment of telling her
the truth.

'You should drink more often.' He thought as her hands moved down his
back as she grasped his hips and pulled him forward on top of her once
more. 

---.---.---.--.-- 

The morning was brilliant.

Emma awoke with Roger's head nestled quite comfortably on her chest as
she heard the faint chime strike seven times in the Great hall.  The
governor sighed and stretched as the sweet memories from the night
before flooded her mind with images that she felt so fortunate to have
remembered so clearly given the amount of wine she had consumed.  She
could still remember his touches on her skin and his mouth caressing
every part of her until she was writhing in a drunken haze beneath his
body.  She remembered the sincere gentle expression on his face and how
he had told her he loved her so passionately that she had allowed
herself to believe him for that one moment in time.

This brought a smile to her face as she murmured to Roger's sleeping
form, "You have done your part, now it is time to do mine." 

The governor slowly sat up in bed, moving so that she could pick up her
chemise from the floor and slip it on over her head.  She wished she
could look a bit more dignified, however desperate times had called for
desperate measures.

She was glad Roger was passed out from the alcohol as she with some
difficulty was able to get in to her wheelchair and move over to her
desk drawer where she was able to retrieve a piece of her official
parchment. Emma swallowed hard as she unrolled the new law, smoothing it
out on her lap before placing it next to her lover's head as he slept. 

Supporting herself with one hand she leant forward and kissed Roger's
lips for the final time as she sat fully back in her chair and silently
moved out of the room. 

The governor had no tears left to shed as she wheeled herself towards
the top of the massive staircase that went several stories down to the
polished marble floor below.  EmmaRose leaned on the banister for
support as the dead weight of her legs thudded harshly against the heavy
wood as she tried to sit on top of the railing. 

It was a strenuous effort on her part as she breathing hard sat on the
balustrade, she trying not to slip off its glazed surface as the woman
took a final look around.  Part of her wanted to get back in the
wheelchair, go back to Roger's warm embrace and destroy all evidence of
the law that would take effect as soon as he would read it.  However,
she knew she couldn't turn back now, she knowing she couldn't live
without him and by doing this she was not only freeing the Mubites but
herself as well.

"You have done your part," she repeated softly to no one in particular,
"It is time I do mine." 

--.--.---.---.--..--.-- 

The mubite hated hangovers.

The man groaned as he heard the clock chime nine times before he
stretched out a bare arm in order to wrap Emma in a final embrace before
he would ready himself for another day.

The man blinked in surprise as his arms came up empty and he yawned as
he fully opened his eyes to a deserted silent room. 

"Madame governor?" he tentatively inquired as he swung his legs over the
side of the bed and reached for his discarded garments on the floor.  He
hurriedly put them on, peering outside the door that had been left ajar.
Biting his lip in confusion, Roger noticed that her wheelchair was also
missing from where he had left it the previous night.  His sleepy eyes
moved over the bed once again, as if he couldn't believe that EmmaRose
had left his side without waking him first.

That was when he saw the parchment laying on the pillow.

The servant leaned forward and picked up the note as he squinted in the
dim light of the room.  What he read made his heart skip several beats
and he became instantly awake as he sat on the edge of the bed.  He
stared at the note incredulously, unbelieving what he was reading.
However, there it was in her ever neat script, signed and marked with
her official seal of approval. 

 

 

I, EmmaRose Teene, Governor of Mubiteland, hereby withdraw any laws
which place limits of the movements of Mubitelanders.  As of the First
of January of the New Year, all Mubitelanders are free to leave and
return as they wish.  All previous restrictions on travel, trade and
employment are now lifted.

 

Signed,

EmmaRose Teene.

 

 

Roger opened and closed his mouth several times as a happy smile lit his
face.

"Emma," he whispered in disbelief as he dropped the paper and rushed out
in to the hallway, "Emma, how drunk were you last night?" 

His footsteps ran towards her study and pushed open the wooden door
expecting to see her sitting at her desk with a grin on her face.  Upon
finding the room empty, he turned back and glanced over the stairs where
he noticed her wheelchair.

Her vacant wheelchair.

"Madame?" he questioned as he glanced from the chair to the broken
banister to what lay on the cold floor below.

The Mubite gasped in horror and shock as he fought down the bile that
was suddenly in his throat.

There was Emma, her auburn hair more noticeable do to the large pool of
blood that surrounded her head.  Her neck that he had so passionately
ravaged the night before was twisted at such an awkward angle he could
hardly look at it.  The marble that he had so painstakingly polished the
week before was colored a bright crimson against the spotless hue of the
floor. 

"Lord," he whispered as he slowly made his way down the stairs, the
deafening silence of the mansion overwhelming as he gazed at Emma.

 

His Madame governor.  His lover.  The girl he had danced with those few
years ago.

 

The woman that was now clearly dead.

The young man carefully knelt on the floor, wincing as he turned her
neck from its broken position to a more natural one as he gazed at her
in awe.

'For this one night please call me Emma.'

'You will find out my reasoning tomorrow.  I have the first day of the
new year all planned out.'

'You have my word that if you stay it will be worth your while.' 

A sob escaped Roger's lips as he remembered the cryptic statements she
had said the night before that were now clear as crystal to him in the
light of day.

"No," he choked as his breaths came out in short uneven gasps, "It was
not, it was not worth.  Oh God it was not!" 

He shouted to the heavens, he pressing his fingers to her cold ashen
colored skin that held no pulse; no life. 

No life.

His life, his love and routine were gone.

"Damn it!  Why didn't you just.?" 

'This is what you've wanted.' A small voice said in his mind as he
shuttered and retched onto the floor beside her head. 

"Not like this," he gasped as he tried to regain his breath, "You
didn't, you never had to do this.  Why did you?  You could have just
made the law; you did not have to."

Yet she had, and Roger was now left to spread the news of her death.
The death that did not have to occur.  The death that he could have
somehow prevented if he had only been honest with himself and her.

And as he watched in shock and disbelief in the town square, it was the
death many mubites celebrated with joyful songs and thankful speeches. 

 

--..--..End of, "For one night."--.---