marching on || clara

It was cooler today than it had been the day before but Clara barely noticed the difference. She sat in her usual spot on the grass, right in the middle of the grounds, just like she normally did, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Her ever-present teddy bear was entrapped between her knees and her chest, her chin resting on it's head as she gazed out blankly at the trees. She hadn't really moved at all in a couple of hours, in spite of the early hour. Sleep wasn't something that came easily to her anymore and if she could get away and sneak outside to her favorite spot then she was happy with that.

Today she had on a light coat but she barely noticed it's presence. Her mind was elsewhere, thinking about the past. She was remembering a picnic she had had with her parents, before they had both passed away, when they had laid out a blanket in the park. They had so much fun, just enjoying each other's company. Clara had practiced cartwheels while her mother laid out the food. Her father had sat, watching the little girl and laughing as she tried to flip herself around. It was a simple, everyday sort of memory but, given the circumstances, it was one that made her feel a bit sad. A lone tear slipped from her eye but she completely ignored it, her gaze remaining locked on the tree line in front of her.

It was a few minutes later that someone approached her. When she first heard the voice she didn't react. She gave no indication at all that she had heard the man speak. Then her legs abruptly flopped down to lay out straight in front of her and she grabbed onto her bear, finally glancing away from the trees to look down into the stuffed animal's vacant eyes. Still not giving her attention to the nurse that had approached her, she cocked her head curiously at her bear before slowly making it nod its head "yes."

TAG: Gage

WORDS: xxx

SHORT NOTES