The Fall of Grace

The Fall of Grace

It wasn't going to be undemanding, she knew.

Many a times, stranded with numbness we get impulsive.

It was early morning when Grace entered the living room. She was empty, stupified. Terrified to speak.

Mr.Dubois, dark and gloomy sat in his room, hesitant enough to let the daylight in.

No sound came from the cellar, no one insisted for the newspaper, no sweet scent enchanted around, no one crooned like a nightingale, no one laughed over Mr.Dubois's burnt bread...

It wasn't home anymore.

The sun gleaming brightly was ignorant of the irony of Grace!

The beautiful garden outside was overlooked. 

Grace, wrapping her arms around the pillow could not shed a tear, her heart was trying to rip out, escape the burning ache. 

Her name no longer had a resemblance.

She could not make herself walk up to her father's room. She could not face Mr.Dubois.

There was a knock on the door when she realized her aunt had arrived. She embraced her and burst into tears. 

"Where's your father dear?" she asked still sobbing.

"In his room", Grace pointed to the door.

Aunt Jade called out for Mr.Dubois, who opened after several yells.

He came out looking at the floor. He was holding his wife's wedding dress. Jade held him and helped him to a chair. Grace didn't dare to look at him. 

"Ellias! What have you done to yourself?! You need to eat properly, you have to look after this girl..."

To this Mr.Dubois gave a stern loathsome look and fell silent.

Jade brought a glass of water which he slammed against the floor.

"Ellias please calm down. You have to accept the reality, Grace, come here, make him eat!"

"D-da-dad..."

"Don't you dare call me that again", his voice quivered.

He was still holding the dress tightly, his eyes red and swollen, his hands covered with bruises all over. It was evident he had hit himself.

Grace dropped to the floor sobbing. Her whole body was shaking. Her hands were burnt brown and she bore a deep cut on her forehead.

"She is a murderer! Get away from her Jade, she can kill anytime. She is a DISGRACE! She is not my daughter, I would have killed her the day she was born if I knew this!"

Grace was weeping vigorously.

"What are you saying? Have you lost your mind?"

"My wife, she has killed my wife! This girl has killed her mother! Your sister, Jade! She's a killer!"

Jade was startled.

"I can't believe this" she looked at Grace, "you k-i-l"

The doorbell rang and Grace flinched. 

Two policemen entered, "Grace Dubois"

Ellias sat with the dress tightly clutched and eyes closed. 

Jade demanded an explanation.

"Grace Dubois is to be arrested for murder along with a gang of terrorists. She escaped from the site but the rest revealed her identity. She was involved in the act of explosion at the station".

Silence fell over.

Grace was holding herself so firmly that blood trickled out of her arm. She didn't want to live.

Mr.Dubois stood up still clutching the dress. He went to his daughter, pulled her up by the arm thereby shedding more blood, and threw her in front of the cops. She fell.

Jade looked at her like a filthy criminal. 

"You have no idea how much my sister loved you, how much we all loved you. I can't think of anybody on earth who would kill their mother, the one who brought you in this world!"

The little girl, trembling and sobbing screamed, "Please listen to me once please Dad, please!"

"Take her away", he roared.

Grace looked at him, he was clasping the dress close to his heart, with eyes closed. He fell on the floor screaming. Grace attempted to run towards him but was immediately handcuffed. "Please for once leave me, please let me go to him, he needs me!!" She was gasping.

"Ellias won't require a criminal's sympathy!", retorted Jade while consoling him.

Grace screamed but was not released.

They pulled her like a dog in a leash and took her out of site....her screams faded.

Ellias dug his nails into his skin and fainted.

Little did they know that Grace was ignorant of her mother's presence at the station.

                                                    Riddhi Chakraborty