Post by Gladys Hayden on Jan 21, 2024 3:46:42 GMT
Jovena’s reply struck Gladys more than it should have, and she had her eyebrows furrowed as she thought about it more. Being a ghost walking in our world was better than hell, objectively so, but something about it didn’t feel any better to Gladys. There was something depressing about the idea, this she knew, yet that made her more focused on it somehow. If she died here and now, going to hell would be an answer. It would mean that the verdict was struck and she could work on accepting her fate for the rest of time. But if she woke up a ghost, that felt worse somehow. It would mean that she didn’t have a place to go, didn’t know where she’d end up, and not knowing would cause her to worry. She’d never be able to rest because she wouldn’t know if being a ghost was a permanent condition. Maybe that was her true hell, made worse by not even knowing she was in it.
She shook her head, wanting to put the ghost thoughts to rest as they drove on. The city lights always shined, even through fog, and tonight they had an especially warm glow through the fog. It looked like the light was shining on a surface, rather than in the air, the fog appearing solid until it reached the edges of the light. And then Jo asked about the holiday, and Gladys couldn’t help but give a small smile.
“I do, but I haven’t.” Her smile dropped as she heard herself answer, but she kept talking. “I did when I was still living at home. My folks and I would have a big dinner and tell stories to each other and sing silly songs. But since coming here and enlisting, I haven’t celebrated. I haven’t thought much about it, it just felt like something I didn’t get to have anymore. Like Christmas only exists when you have your family around to do the things with so without that, it’s just another day. I remember last year I volunteered to do extra work on base for the people who left to see family, and I didn’t mind doing it. It was quiet that day, peaceful. I suspect it’ll be similar this year.”
She shook her head, wanting to put the ghost thoughts to rest as they drove on. The city lights always shined, even through fog, and tonight they had an especially warm glow through the fog. It looked like the light was shining on a surface, rather than in the air, the fog appearing solid until it reached the edges of the light. And then Jo asked about the holiday, and Gladys couldn’t help but give a small smile.
“I do, but I haven’t.” Her smile dropped as she heard herself answer, but she kept talking. “I did when I was still living at home. My folks and I would have a big dinner and tell stories to each other and sing silly songs. But since coming here and enlisting, I haven’t celebrated. I haven’t thought much about it, it just felt like something I didn’t get to have anymore. Like Christmas only exists when you have your family around to do the things with so without that, it’s just another day. I remember last year I volunteered to do extra work on base for the people who left to see family, and I didn’t mind doing it. It was quiet that day, peaceful. I suspect it’ll be similar this year.”