violet

words by Sarayu Kurra

outside of the manor, the trees rioted against the storm, their struggle pitiful against the raging winds. violet watched as the tornado consumed her home - every piece of her husband’s labor. she smiled, as the wall facing the outside withstood the strength of the eye, the carvings on the bricks lay intact opposing the ruin within. she knew this destruction could not match the torment that lay inside the barriers that he built. inside the paintings she curated. inside the mattress on the fourth floor.

violet hesitated. a brick was missing. 

she retrieved a lantern and rushed outside, braving the thunder and the violent winds. this could not be right. he had planted each one in its position with precision, as she had made sure of it. this could ruin everything: her mission, her plan. 

sure enough, the carvings were incomplete. one word was missing:

“violet”

she closed her eyes, her head spinning. what would happen if the brick got carried into the storm? what would happen if someone found it and questioned his whereabouts? she had done a splendid job keeping their business hidden, answering any questions related to his disappearance. according to her, he was studying abroad, exploring the ruins of another continent and learning about the inhabitants that settled there. 

his family would come looking for him now. they would follow the instructions she had carved into the wall. they would look for the objects hidden within her paintings that would lead them to the room where it all happened.

the master room was special, as it was the only room in the house without silk linens and paintings covering the walls. as time went on, the linens were replaced with velvet and the paintings were moved to the hallway. this way, those looking for him after she had passed could be led into the room and the velvet could be evidence for the damage that was done. after all, velvet runs thicker than silk.

she smirked. maybe this was the universe telling her this was time.

she entered the master bedroom and opened the curtains, the lightning being her only source of illumination. she lifted the mattress of the bed and peered into the crevices. 

“hello, my dear”

glazed eyes stared back at her. 

“it is time for me to join you.”