Lekhny Story -03-Jun-2024

Name,: Sree Varshini R Title: Last breath Genre: Short story

Characters:

1. Eliza - A young woman who seeks out the Keeper of Last Breaths to help her gravely ill grandmother.
2. Eliza's Grandmother - The gravely ill woman for whom Eliza seeks help.
3. The Keeper of Last Breaths - A mysterious old woman with the power to grant a final breath to those on the brink of death.

Places:

1. Willow Creek - A small town nestled among rolling hills and dense forests of the Pacific Northwest.
2. The Forest - The dark and foreboding woods Eliza must traverse to reach the Keeper's cabin.
3. The Clearing - The open space in the forest where the Keeper's cabin is located.
4. The Keeper's Cabin - A small, ramshackle structure filled with mystical objects where the Keeper resides.

In the small town of Willow Creek, nestled among the rolling hills and dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, there was a legend that spoke of a mysterious old woman known as the Keeper of Last Breaths. It was said that she possessed the power to grant a person one final breath before they passed on from this world to the next. Many dismissed the legend as mere superstition, but others believed in the old woman's power and sought her out in their hour of need.

One crisp autumn evening, a young woman named Eliza found herself standing at the edge of the town, staring up at the winding path that led to the Keeper's secluded cabin deep in the woods. Eliza's grandmother lay gravely ill, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as the life slowly ebbed away from her frail body. Desperate to save her beloved grandmother, Eliza had heard whispers of the Keeper's abilities and decided to seek her out.

With a heavy heart and a determination burning in her chest, Eliza began the long journey through the darkening forest. The ancient trees creaked and groaned overhead, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. As she walked, the air grew thick with a sense of foreboding, and an icy chill crept up her spine.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eliza reached the clearing where the Keeper's cabin stood, a small, ramshackle structure surrounded by gnarled old trees and thickets of brambles. The door creaked open as she approached, and a frail figure emerged from the shadows within.

The Keeper of Last Breaths was a wizened old woman with a face lined with age and wisdom. Her eyes, dark and deep, seemed to pierce straight through Eliza's soul as she silently beckoned her inside. Without a word, Eliza followed the old woman into the dimly lit cabin, her heart pounding in her chest.

Inside, the cabin was filled with an array of strange and mystical objects - dried herbs hanging from the ceiling, ancient books stacked upon rickety shelves, and candles flickering in the shadows. The air was thick with the scent of sage and incense, and the room seemed to pulse with a strange, otherworldly energy.

The Keeper motioned for Eliza to sit at a small wooden table, her gaze never leaving the young woman's face. In a voice that was both hoarse and melodic, she spoke of the power she possessed - the ability to grant one final breath to those on the brink of death. But there was a catch, she explained. In exchange for this gift, the recipient must offer something of equal value - a memory, a dream, a piece of their soul.

Eliza hesitated, her mind whirling with doubt and fear. Could she trust this mysterious old woman with her grandmother's life? But as she looked into the Keeper's eyes, she saw a glimmer of compassion and understanding that reassured her. With a trembling hand, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a worn, silver locket - a precious keepsake from her childhood.

"This was my mother's," Eliza whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Take it, and grant my grandmother one last chance to breathe."

The Keeper's eyes softened at the sight of the locket, and she nodded in silent agreement. With a wave of her hand, she beckoned Eliza to follow her deeper into the cabin, where a small, glowing orb of light hovered in the center of the room. As Eliza watched in awe, the orb began to pulse and shimmer, filling the cabin with a warm, comforting glow.

"Bring me your grandmother's name," the Keeper commanded, her voice ringing with power. "Speak it aloud, and let her spirit find its way to this place."

Eliza closed her eyes and whispered her grandmother's name, a tear slipping down her cheek as she felt the weight of her grief and longing. And then, as if by magic, a soft breeze began to stir in the cabin, carrying with it a faint, ethereal whisper.

The Keeper reached out her hand, touching the glowing orb with a gentle caress. "Take her breath," she murmured, her voice barely a breeze in the stillness of the room.

And then, in a single, breathtaking moment, the orb pulsed with a blinding light, and Eliza felt a surge of energy rush through her body. She opened her eyes to see her grandmother's spirit hovering before her, bathed in a soft, golden glow. For a fleeting instant, time stood still as the old woman inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling with renewed strength.

Eliza's heart swelled with joy and relief as she watched her grandmother take in that final, precious breath. The room seemed to fill with a sense of peace and serenity, and for a moment, all was still.

But as the light faded and the warmth slowly ebbed away, Eliza's grandmother's spirit began to drift back towards the unknown. With a heavy heart, she whispered her final words of love and farewell, her voice a mere echo in the quiet cabin.

And then, in a blink of an eye, she was gone.

Eliza sat alone in the silent room, her heart heavy with sorrow but also filled with a sense of profound gratitude. She knew that she would never forget this moment, this fleeting glimpse of the other side. And as she rose to leave the Keeper's cabin and make her way back to Willow Creek, she knew that she would carry this memory with her always - a reminder of the power of love, of sacrifice, and of the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of loss and change.

And so, with a deep breath and a heart full of hope, Eliza stepped back out into the fading light of the autumn evening, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead - armed with the knowledge that, in the end, love would always find a way to endure.

Moral of the Short Story:

The moral of the story is about the power of love, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of loss and change. It underscores the idea that love and compassion can transcend even the boundaries of life and death, and that true sacrifice often involves letting go of something precious for the sake of others.