by Elsa Graus
the fight got worse she couldn’t help it and tried to make all she could to separate them. But they were too strong and her efforts were not enough.
“The dim illumination did the rest. Rachel must have tripped over something. The ground was quite uneven and if you weren’t careful you could have a few unpleasant surprises. The next thing Frank Norris and Joshua knew was that she was lying on the ground and a pool of blood was beginning to appear from her head.
“There was nothing they could have done to help her. It was too late for her. She wasn’t moving. Her body lay inert. Mr. Norris made sure all the fingers pointed to Joshua as guilty of a crime he didn’t commit. Frank Norris bought false witnesses who testified against Joshua and the jury – who was also bribed – condemned him to the gallows.
“From then on all of us who still remembered what happened cannot help but feel pain when this time of year comes for that was when Rachel died, at the eve of the Mardi Gras festivities. Of course there is a legend that says their spirits are still wandering this place. But they are already part of the story that has turned into a myth.”
I swear I was completely awake, thrilled and intrigued all at once at hearing him speaking but when I realized the night had turned into daylight again. At which point I closed my eyes it was hard to tell. The fireplace was cold and the signs of the flames dancing intermittently were ghosts in the memory of ancient times. No doubt my friends would be wondering where I’ve been doing as I was wondering where the man I met last night had gone.
I could see the rocking chair he had been sitting down on. It was as still as the rest of the furniture of that room. But at the time I rose to leave that place I noticed a small photograph. A shiver went down my spine when I reached for it and saw it was the same face that had been talking to me last night. I was dumbstruck when I decided to turn it around for on the other side were written the words WITH LOVE, JOSHUA.
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About the Author
Elsa Graus is the author of Five Weeks in Juliette’s Life.
Lost Inside a Legend is one of the several short stories she’s written.
