Gloria

Gloria

A Blackbird Tale

By Krystal Yegon

Inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe

                Chains…chains overtake the weight of my frame as I await my sentence upon the most heinous sin I have committed against my beloved wife. A woman with who I was to share the rest of my life with. Oh, how I worked so hard to gain favor with her. Yet, I feel no remorse for her demise. Just…sheer…hatred. For she committed a sin far greater than I onto her. She took away the most precious item I have ever had in my possession. Ah, such a beautiful item. I would treat it so tenderly, so carefully that she knew that I loved her dearly. I loved her far more than my wretched wife could ever stand. However, as I reflect upon the series of events which led me to the chains that I carry upon my back I know that what I did…will never return Gloria back to me. She is lost forever, and therefore, my soul shall remain hollow.

                Two winters ago, Beth and I wed and a home was made available to us. It was a home with character and charm, even in the depths of the grey skies which rolled across the town. A two story Victorian style home gracefully sitting in the center of ten acres. Instantly, Beth fell mad over this home and declared,

                “We must have it as our own! Our children will grow wondrous within it and we shall grow more fondly of each other. Love will spill from its window panes and the land will be rich and fertile with it!” Her words swooned me and with a kiss full of excitement, I was won over and we purchased it.

                As we moved in, we found great mystery with it. Who were the prior residents? Were there any deep secrets hidden within the walls? How marvelous the mysteries overtook or minds. We often spoke about them in the midst of our bedchambers.

                “Do you think spirits reside here?” Beth wondered one evening, lying tenderly against my bosom.

                “Perhaps. If you see any, please inform so that I may run off this land in haste. For I rather live in a hostel than patron with ghosts.” She laughed.

                “Then I will make sure to never speak of it. Your company is what keeps me sane most days.”

                My darling Beth was so eager to make this a home, that the following weekend upon our arrival, we scoured the entire place for treasures to make our own. The attic was full of them, but as I grew weary of these papers and boxes that were stored by tenants passed, I craved for the cold sweetness of a glass of wine. I made my way to the grand kitchen and searched within the cupboards for the glasses that were gifted to us on our wedding day. Inside one, closest the chilled window, I found something else made of glass. It was a doll. Cobwebs cuddled her sandy brown hair and her eyes. Oh those eyes. I shall never forget those eyes. They were deeply saddened. Perhaps by witnessing horrific acts taken place before her presence. More likely, because of the sheer loneliness she had to endure by living in darkness for so long. I obtained the upmost empathy for the poor object and removed it from the solemn grave she was laid upon.

As I gently stroked the cobwebs out of her hair, I continued to admire her. A pale white skin covered her head and neck. Painted upon it were those lovely eyes, rosy pink cheeks, and small, intricately red lips. Her dress was brown and conservative, as if she were to accompany a child to church. Along the ankles were little black shoes to cover her pasty white toes. Finally, the last thing I noticed was a small black rosary tucked neatly inside the palm of her hand.

                “I shall call you Gloria,” I murmured to her. “For it is the Gloria which brings joy to my heart every Sunday as you have brought joy to me today. Don’t fret dear Gloria. You shall be lonely no longer. I promise.”

                Beth fluttered into the kitchen with great excitement. As she did, I sat Gloria down upon the counter and stood in front of her. It is beyond my comprehension as to why I felt I needed to conceal my finding from my wife.

                “My love! I have found a remarkably eerie story for you! Come join me in the living room so that I may read it to you.” She fluttered back out and I spoke softly,

                “Gloria, you shall remain here in the light, but my company will never leave you. Upon my return, I will make a chamber for you to rest peacefully for the day.” Gently I kissed her lovely head and pursued my wife into the living quarters.

                “It is so magnificent!” she uttered with excitement as she threw her lovely legs across my lap. She straightened the paper smoothly against her leg and cleared her throat with jest.

                To My Love, My Dearest Gloria,

                                Far beyond the depths of my soul, I have removed myself from this despicable place this hour in order to preserve your innocence. My love, please don’t gain resentment towards my action. It is not I who wish to depart from you. You are the sweetest being to ever possess this Earth, yet my spouse refuses to allow our engagements to persist. In your chambers in the only light that glows in the basement, I have left you my only true promise to you, my heart. It is there, that we shall always remain together.

                                Oh my love! I weep violently at this departure. I may never live again! My existence shall be void for it remains with you. My wife shall never please me the way you have done. She shall never understand the depths of my soul as you do. My mysterious love, you shall forever remain within me. Never to depart me, not even onto death.

                                I must close my words by saying to the boldest degree that I love you. I love you more than any single thing that has ever enchanted the Earth. It is my only request that you remain poise and beautiful forever.

                Forever Yours,

                                Henry

                “How divine! The poor man was ripped away from his lover in order to engage in a marriage that gave him misery. The man probably killed himself after a while. For if a man can’t be with the woman who has his heart, why, they seem to go star craving mad! Haven’t you not noticed this yourself love?”

                “I have,” I answered.

                “Too bad for the man. I feel pity for him. However this letter accompanies a great story of mystery in which we shall share with our companions when they come over tomorrow night! How divine!” She hopped upon my lap and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

                “Are you feeling well? Your skin seems to have turned a little pale my love.”

                “Oh I’m quite alright my dear. Just a bit tired is all. A quick nap will perk me right back up.”

                “Wonderful! I shall see you to it that you perk something else up as well upon your awakening.” She soothed me with a kiss and said, “Our children are not going to make themselves you know.”

                “Indeed, they are not.”

                When she departed, I returned to the kitchen and found Gloria with a better spirit. I found a glass and poured some red into it.

                “Your lover, Henry, what became of him?” She gazed ominously onto me. I took a sip of my drink and noted, “My devotion is not fleeting as your lover past. My word is final and it shall remain. However you are to not sleep in the basement. It is old, dirty, dark, and unkempt. You shall stay with me in my bedchambers. I will make a place for you there.” I took her from the counter and made my way to my bedchamber. I found a small wooden box and made a bed for her next to my side. The light from the window shown upon her and I laid my weary head against my pillow.

                “Goodnight,” I bid to her before I dozed off into sleep.

                As I slept, I dreamt. As I dreamt, I felt a warm hand against my cheek. I looked on to find that it was…Gloria! However, she was no longer in doll form, but in the form of a woman.

                “Gloria?” I asked, perplexed at this finding. She smiled sweetly and lay in the bed next to me. “Gloria, you are a spirit?”

                “I am.” She responded. Her voice that of an angel of God’s above.

                “How did this come to be?” I asked her.

                “Henry’s wife.” She reported. She looked away, her sad eyes becoming more saddened. I took her face in my hand and said,

                “You can tell me, for it will not deter me from keeping my promise.” She smiled sweetly and continued.

                “Henry’s wife learned of our passion. She went to Madame Chloe, a witch from the Bayou. The witch made this doll, made a pack with Lucifer and said that if this doll were to shatter, my soul will forever belong to him. I will be thrown into the depths of Hell, never to see the light again. Then, my soul departed from my body and into the doll. It is here that I remained. She put me in the cupboard, sold the house, and they left. I’ve never heard of him again.”

                “Oh, my dear woman. How awful this life must have been for you.” I told her with much pity.

                “Many people came to pass, but all have left me in that forsaken cupboard. That is, until you came. You gave me light again, and I thank you for this. I am forever in debt to your kindness.” She leaned over and kissed me. It was in this kiss that she stole my heart, and she knew this. I kissed her with much passion and she melted into me.

                “Oh Gloria,” I moaned between kisses. “You have forever bewitched me.” I continued to moan her name as she undressed me, climbed upon my waist, and made her way with me. During this sweetest encounter is when I heard the shriek of Beth’s voice ring,

                “Who is Gloria?” I awoke sharply. Beth stood in the doorway with her arms crossed and a sour look upon her face.

                “Who?” I asked as if I knew not of what I spoke of.

                “You know exactly the name that I just spoke. Who is she? You have been moaning her name in your sleep for a long time and I want to know who she is.” I rubbed my head while sitting up.

                “Perhaps the maiden that we read about in the letter.”

                “What letter?” Beth asked more impatiently.

                “The letter from Henry to his beloved Gloria.” Beth thought about it in a peculiar way until she said,

                “Oh, the letter we found when we moved in? Jesus, that thing is long gone. I am surprised you still remember that thing.” I became utterly confused at the comment and injected by asking,

                “My love, did we not just move in last week? Did you just not read the letter this afternoon?”

                “No, ‘my love,’” she mocked. “We’ve been living here for a year and a quarter. Clean yourself up and get dressed. There is work to be done.”

                As she left the chambers, I glanced down and noticed wetness upon the cover and became embarrassed. “I haven’t done this since adolescence. Gloria, what have you done to me?” However as I looked around, I became even more perplexed. Everything was furnished and items in place. Even items that I’ve never seen before. Rolling over I looked down and saw that Gloria was still resting beside me upon the bed in which I made for her.

                “Gloria?” I spoke with a panic. “What has happened? Have I been dreaming for so long? It was though I only dreamt for five minutes!” She lied there in silence. I picked up the delicate doll and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. As I did this, I turned on the radio to find what day it was. I sat Gloria on the table and climbed into the shower as the news reporter spoke:

                “Good Afternoon. It is March 28^th and it is a beautiful spring day…” During which I was attempting to recollect any events that happened within the past year and a quarter. My mind swayed as I felt a gentle hand caress the nape of my back in the shower. It felt wonderful, yet I assumed that Beth’s attitude towards me had changed.

                “Darling, have I gained your forgiveness?” A kissed pursed against my shoulders and her arms were wrapped around my waist. I turned around to face her, but instead saw…

                “Gloria.” I was more relieved than frightened. “Am I still in my slumber?”

                Rather than answering, she caressed me in my most delicate areas and I melted. I found my desire to rise again and we made love once more. I had become so smitten by this spirit, yet I don’t know why it had arrived. I couldn’t get enough of her everlasting love and it was so…divine, as Beth would pronounce. It was so divine.

*             *             *             *             *             *             *             *             *             *               

                  

                Gloria had been engrained in me. My heart replaced that of Henry and she followed me wherever we went. She ate dinner with me and joined me in the study where we would speak about the daily events. In the nights, she would lie next to me and haunt my dreams with the most passionate quarrels of love that I have ever engaged in. It was as though she was the mistress that I wanted to leave my wife for, but couldn’t. A maddening love affair.

                I didn’t know it at the time, but to the outside world, all that was seen was my tender love and affection for a glass doll. Beth grew to despise it as it was hindering her efforts to have children of our own. Immediately I was uninterested with Beth’s petite nature and always went to my dreams to take a hold of Gloria’s luscious hips a bath myself in her lovely breasts. My wife grew jealous of this until her jealousy became rage and envy.

                It was one evening where I had Gloria in my study. We were speaking about the political process as she sat upon my lap when Beth stormed in with the rage of a bull.

                “Enough!” She screeched. “I will stand no more embarrassment from this affair that you have with this doll!” Before I could say another word, she attempted to take the doll from me. I grabbed it, pleading for her to cease, but she instead threw a punch at me to knock me back. I let go and Beth ran away with the doll. I quickly came to my feet and pursued her down the hall. She hurried past the kitchen and into the basement. I followed frantically and found myself at the mercy of Beth as she held the doll down upon a workbench and held a hammer above her head as a threat. I fell to my knees and said,

                “Beth, you don’t understand. Please, she’s trapped in that doll and…”

                SMASH! SMASH! SMASH! It was then that the whole house shook upon the foundation for a long moment. During which my heart bled as I saw my beloved Gloria’s spirit rise from the doll by gleeful demons and they took her into the depths of the darkness.

                “Adam!” she screamed before the darkness overtook her light.

                “Gloria!” I called. Then the ground stopped shaking. I lost her.

                “What was that?” Beth asked in a panic. I didn’t answer. Instead I stood up and looked at her. Terror ran across her face as I looked at her.

                “Adam…Adam, wait.” Beth pleaded as I approached her. Before she could say my name once more, I took her neck into my arms and I squeezed as tight as I possibly could. I wanted to break it. She took the hammer in her hand and with all the strength left within her, hit me against the head with it. I fell back and she gasped for air before taking off up the stairs.

                I went after her, ignoring the blood that was seeping from my scalp.

                “Adam! Please! I’m sorry!” she belted as she made her way to the back door. My rage was far greater than my mercy, and I took a butcher knife on my way to the door she couldn’t get out of. Finally the door clicked and she made her way out into the fields. However she had to get through ten acres in order to get to our neighbor’s house.

                She continued to plead as I chased her across the open field. She was quick but I gained on her as we left our property and onto the next. Jesse, our neighbor from the East was standing out in his garden, watering the lilies which he planted for his wife. Beth belted his name as he saw us coming and he hurried to open the door for her. Right before she got to the garden, she fell upon a stone. I caught up to her.

                Beth fought me, but adrenaline overpowered both of us and I started stabbing her repeatedly in her chest.

                “Adam!” Jesse screamed as he began running over towards us. I was oblivious to the old man at the time and continued to stab her over and over and over again. When the man reached me, I threw him back and continued my mission until I saw her cough up her last breath. Jesse saw this and ran as fast as he could inside the house to call the sheriff. I didn’t care. I looked over at Beth’s body for a minute. Trying to find some sort of sorrow for the act in which I committed. I couldn’t. My mind would not endure it. So I got up, and began walking back home.

                When I reached inside, I took a glass, poured some whiskey in it, and made my way with both the glass and the bottle to the study. It was there where I grabbed the Colt 44 from my desk drawer, took my last drink, and uttered,

“For this life is only but a maddening dream.” bang. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Each of these chains represent the sin I have become a slave to. This one, the biggest and heaviest of them all, is my master. I gave my life up for her, now here I remain a slave to her forever. As with Gloria, I remain in the company of darkness for the rest of eternity only hearing the songs of sorrow, but never gaining freedom from it.