Peace Set in Stone

Emely swept the fallen leaves  on the granite stone at her feet before cleaning off her hands and sighing deeply out of habit. She moved toward her rocking chair and settled in noticing once again how her bones didn’t protest from the action anymore—yet still remembering the gentle ache of aging. She crossed her arms and hugged herself as she looked around. The breeze ruffled the leaves and the sky had a softer glow than it had weeks before. Fall was slowly announcing its arrival, following the schedule of the seasons the way it always had and always would. Rocking gently, Emely took solace in the all too familiar rhythm. Her days had looked the same even before. Nothing new ever happened and her life had generally remained unchanged. She wasn’t exactly sure what the point of it all really was. What major life lesson she had finally learned. If anything she realized that it was all a bunch of propaganda set to offer a fake sense of peace that never really existed in the first place. Not for her at least. 

She was every bit of the same person she had been. 

She was every bit alone. 

Why would that have ever changed? 

Benjamin Broch walked by for his usual mid-afternoon stroll. He wore the same pleasant neutrality he had when Emely first arrived at Elmwood. With his arms behind his back like always, he walked stoically forward heading nowhere in particular. He simply enjoyed the act of roaming—even if there was no where else to go. Usually, he liked to greet those he came across on the pavement. A quick hello with the warmest smile frozen in time. His eyes were a cold set of piercing blue that held nothing but resignation behind their soft gaze. It was the type of gaze that was haunting for different reasons than one might initially think. There was solace and desperation behind them. They didn’t set out to elicit pity, but they inspired a sorrow one didn’t exactly know before. 

“What about your grandchildren? Do they get to come by and visit often?” A gentle , mature voice spoke from behind Benjamin, drawing Emely’s sudden attention to the new presence . 

“Yes actually,” he answered more uplifted. “The youngest was here a few weeks ago with my daughter. She’s grown up to be just like my Sarah. But between you and me, I think she  has my chin.” 

Benjamin turned back slightly to wink at the newcomer. . Taking sudden notice of his surroundings, he made eye contact with Emely and stopped for a moment to wave. Emely of course waved back slightly, noting how ridiculous he seemed waving at her as if they were yards apart. Really, her chair was only a few  feet from the pavement he stood on. Even so, she didn’t feel right voicing her annoyance as it was minimal and truthfully, just coming from a place of attitude. 

“Emely,” he called out, “how’s it going?”

He turned to face her on the pavement. A young girl matched his position slightly behind him and to the right. She looked shy almost—like she was partially trying to hide behind him, but too curious not to take a peak at who had involuntarily been added to the conversation. 

Though Emely would never admit it, she was thrown aback by this girl. She looked so young and yet her eyes and her height made her out to be an old soul. Her curls cascaded down her back and over her shoulders in waves. It reminded Emely of the ocean, and the gentle rhythm of an evening tide. Her chocolate brown hair complemented her soft tanned skin. It made her pearl white summer dress shine brighter than the gold charm-bracelet that danced on her wrist as she tucked her hair behind her ear. 

The young girl with the old eyes smiled kindly at Emely. 

“Emely?” 

“Same as always, Benjamin, you know that.” She pulled her eyes from the innocence that stood next to him to offer him a resigned gaze. 

Unsurprised by her response, Benjamin sighed  and gently shook his head, “Right, right. Well anyway.” He moved over a step and placed an arm around the girl’s shoulder. “Emely, this is Amelia Rose. Amelia Rose,” with his free arm, he pointed in my direction, “this is Emely Weston.”

The girl’s curious gaze hadn’t left Emely’s general vicinity throughout the exchange, and with a sudden extroverted charisma, she stepped out from behind Benjamin to wave softly. 

“Hello Mrs. Weston,” 

“Hello—”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” answered Emely, the remark not quite convincing. Yes she had a curiosity, but that was only because she had never seen the young girl around before today. When had she arrived? Or was she from deeper into the neighborhood? Frankly, Emely rarely left her plot. Even when she did, she didn’t venture very far—she didn’t really need to. Most folks around here, those who had both been here longer or less than her, were frequent strollers who liked to pass the time and socialize. Emely, of course, was the exception.

“I don’t entirely think you mean that, but that’s okay.”

Amelia Rose scoffed at her open bluntness. The gesture made Emely falter a second from her usual nonchalant, serious expression with the smallest of smirks. 

“By golly Amelia Rose,” Benjamin began, “I do believe I have never seen this woman warm up to anyone, and here you go winning her over in 2 seconds.”

Emely rolled her eyes . 

“Oh Benji—”

Benji? Thought Emely with a grimace. Since when does he let anyone call him anything other than Benjamin or Broch? 

Amelia Rose continued with her giggled response, “I don’t think Mrs. Weston likes you all that much.” 

He leaned in closer to her and fake whispered, “Emely doesn’t like anyone very much actually, so I don’t think I’m any more or less in the same position as the rest.” 

Again, Emely rolled her eyes and got comfortable in her rocking chair, crossing her arms and closing her eyes as her usual silent dismissal—one the entire neighborhood recognized. She expected them to then walk away, but to her surprise she heard a bit more whispering and then felt a presence closer to her than before. 

Emely opened her eyes to find Amelia Rose a mere few steps in front of her, tilting her head slightly as she gazed. It was here that Emely noticed the green hue of her eyes. They were darker closer to the iris and faded out. 

Forest green eyes.

Gentle.

Innocent. 

And… tormented?

“Could I sit with you a while?” 

Emely stared deeply into this young girl’s hypnotic eyes, and felt all the weight of them. “Sure.” Emely watched as the gir— Amelia Rose smiled and sat down in front of her, hugging her knees and resting her chin on top. Perfectly settled. Anticipant.

“So tell me,” began Amelia Rose, “how long has Benji been bothering ya?”

Amelia Rose went on like that for about an hour, asking Emely miscellaneous questions that she could answer with as few words as possible if she wanted. She never pressured Emely to expand or be more detailed. Sometimes she’d even let them enjoy a few moments of mutual silence. Eventually, Amelia Rose would excuse herself after noting the setting sun and assure Emely that she’d come back the next day. Of course, Emely never really acknowledged her remark or her intent to return, rather she nodded her head and dismissed her the way she did with everyone else—except, once she felt Amelia Rose stand and start to walk away, she’d peak open her eyes to watch as she did so. Every time, Amelia Rose would take one last glance over her shoulder to wave and smile, before heading further down the path and out of sight. 

Emely never asked where exactly she was headed or if she had someone else to meet. All she knew was that Amelia Rose returned every day after, accompanying Benjamin, or ‘Benji’, as she called him, on his mid-afternoon stroll before diverging and plopping herself at her feet with that same smile and those enchanting green eyes.

“So,” she began with today, not her usual ‘Afternoon Mrs. Weston,’ “I was thinking you could tell me about the rest of the neighborhood today Mrs. Weston?”

Emely looked beyond the girls eyes and took more notice of the rest of her features. She followed the curve of her cheek and the dimple of her smile. Her dark eyebrows to match the chocolate tint of her hair. She had a freckle on her right shoulder that she’d noticed a few days ago when Amelia Rose had rested her chin on it. She was so so young, and so so accustomed to her life—if you could really call it that.  

“Amelia Rose,” said Emely, using her name for the first time since meeting her, “how long have you been here? Did your paren —” 

“No fair Mrs. Weston,” interrupted Amelia Rose, “it’s the first time since we’ve met that I ask you to really tell me something and you deviate by answering me with a change in subject and a question?” 

“It’s not all that much of a change,” answered Emely, switching her position on the rocking chair to lean closer to the girl at her feet. “I was just asking about your coming here to the neighborhood—the neighborhood you just asked me about.” 

This time Amelia Rose was the one to roll her eyes, but not particularly in annoyance—more in amusement at the newfound conversation they were finally going to have. She wasn’t complaining through, truly! She was just finally excited to really get to know Mrs. Weston a little better. Amelia Rose had quickly noticed Emely was a quiet person. One of those people who was lonely not exactly by choice but also not trying to change it. Amelia Rose could tell she was struggling. Mrs.Weston was ponder-some, but not exactly in the best way. More like quietly and slowly spiraling. Anyway, Amelia Rose felt she might be able to help ease her some. Or at the very least, she might be able to keep her company a while. 

Amelia Rose stood her ground. She was determined to make today a little different than yesterday. “Well either way, I asked you first.” 

 ~

Amelia Rose made direct eye contact with Mrs. Weston. She had begun to notice the way Emely liked to get lost in her eyes. She wasn’t sure what Mrs. Weston was looking for, but she hoped that it was simply something she felt drawn to. 

Maybe it meant that they could keep each other company. 

They didn’t have to be alone.

They could make the most of their situation, Amelia Rose knew they could… if they only tried. Emely sighed and gently began to rock herself again, “okay then, who would you like to know about?”

“Everyone you can tell me about. I haven’t gotten to know anyone outside of you and Benji.”

“Actually, before we begin—and I promise it’s only a quick question—when did you start calling Benjamin, Benji?”

“Aha! Trick question. You just want me to reveal how long ago I got here to the neighborhood!” Maybe.

“Nooo,”   smart kid. “I simply want to know why he lets you call him that. Benjamin has always been a very serious man, and no one’s ever called him anything other than his full name or his last name. Rebeka tried to call him Ben once and the grimace he gave her was enough to scare everyone else from trying—even little Pete.”

Amelia Rose giggled, “Oh well, I’ll let myself feel a little special then! He’s never opposed to my calling him that.” Emely noticed the way Amelia Rose answered while looking down and fiddling with her charms. 

“But hey, you mentioned two new people! Tell me, who are they?”

“You know, how come you haven’t asked ‘Benji’ to introduce you or give you the grand tour and introduction of everything and everyone in Elmwood?”

“Because,” began Amelia Rose in stride, no hesitation necessary, “I want to hear it from you.”

Emely refrained from pointing out her urgency, and once again got comfortable in her rocking chair. “Alright, well, Rebeka is actually Rebeka Michelle Gibson. She’s been here for a long while but not the longest. Longer than I have, yes, but still, not the oldest soul.” Emely rocked herself gently, getting lost in the motion and the trance of thought. “She’s beautiful and really embodies the late 40’s. Her dark black hair matched the intenseness of her black eyes. But they complemented her pale olive complexion. 

“Rebeka’s always been super kind and forthcoming though. She, unlike Benjamin, lets Little Pete call her Auntie Beks, haha. Don’t get confused though, they are in no way related. Rebeka just likes to be the approachable one of the bunch.”

Amelia Rose followed along intently, shaking her head and giggling here and there showing she was interested and paying attention. 

Emely continued, “Little Pete is also just a nickname we use. His formal name is Peter Henry Andrews. He’s always around with his Dad, Jeremy, unless he’s given him the slip in which case Jeremy is roaming around calling out his name in his deep baritoned voice. Pete likes to hide and give his dad a real scare—which I find silly because Jeremy knows he can’t go far.”

“Don’t let Jeremy’s voice fool you though. The man, apart from being a self-proclaimed ‘typical lumberjack loner’, is ironically the biggest teddy bear you will ever come across. Even when he’s acting like he’s all upset and is scorning Pete, the little rascal simply smiles and giggles all the way through. Anyway, they don’t have any other family around so it’s just them and us in the neighborhood. His ex-wife comes and visits every couple of weeks, though. I think she remarried a while after … well everything, and I’m pretty sure she’s just gotten pregnant. Pete ran around telling everyone he was gonna have a little sister all excited.”

“Well, how does Jeremy feel about it?” 

“He’s happy for her. Everyone can tell. He’s also very encouraging with little Pete about it all— ruffles his hair when the kid rambles on and on about what he hopes his mom will call his little sister. But of course, it comes with a little sadness to it the way all things do here.”

Amelia Rose again fiddled with her gold charms, letting a moment pass. 

“Well, who’s next?!”

Shaking her head slightly amused, Emely continued, “Next we have Stefania Embrose Sullivan. She’s Rebeka’s best friend here in the neighborhood. I think they’re close in age but Stefania is not only a bit of her opposite but also very evidently from a different time.”

Emely giggled at the thought, though Amelia Rose refrained from pointing it out in fear it would ruin their fun. 

“She’s very stern and proper—very stuck in her ways. She’s also very quiet but there really isn’t any need for words when it comes to her. You know what she’s thinking because her face gives her away.”

Emely’s amusement continued.

“She is however very respectful and kind. And I have to admit, though I am not entirely sure what they could possibly be talking about, it’s nice to see them walking arm in arm chatting to themselves.”

Emely looked outward with a gentle smile on her face as if she could see them right then, in that moment. 

Amelia Rose looked at her with the same smile.

“Now,” continued Emely suddenly, breaking her own trance and refocusing on Amelia, “You know Benjamin, but I don’t think you’ve met his little clan from here in the neighborhood.”

Amelia scooted closer to Emely, and readjusted herself so she could lay her head on Emely’s knees. It caught Emely by surprise for a moment, but she quickly recovered and went on with her introductions. 

“Benjamin loves to chat with Macario Olivares. The Funny bit is that, Macario speaks very little English, so they have to use his seventeen year old son, Jose Luis, as a translator often. Really, they’re a trio because Jose Luis seems to enjoy the conversations and even chimes in with his own thoughts from time to time. I think he tried to teach Benjamin a bit of Spanish for a time, but that man is absolutely helpless.”

They both laughed together at the thought, not moving from their current position. Emely continued to rock them both gently and at some point had begun to caress the side of Amelia Rose’s head. Neither one of them acknowledged the thaw that had obviously occurred, but they independently took comfort in the warmth and companionship it had provided. 

“Macario and Jose Luis’ family likes to visit often. Every fall they come by and set up food and decorations. They put up these beautiful orange flowers that I’d never seen before coming to Elmwood.”

Amelia Rose couldn’t help but notice the way Emely’s tone had changed. Even though she smiled as she relayed the story, the sadness in her voice was evident. It oozed out of every syllable only to seep into her skin it seemed. Amelia Rose could feel it come out in waves, but she didn’t mind sharing it with Mrs. Weston. Maybe if she did, Emely wouldn’t feel it so heavily. 

“They laugh together and talk for hours. Everyone knows it’s Macario and Jose Luis’ favorite time of the year, so we all make sure to give them space to enjoy it. Although they always make it known that we’re more than welcome, and that there’s food for everyone because their family practically prepares a feast of their favorite foods.”

They went on this way, laughing and talking for the rest of the afternoon, getting lost in the liveliness that had sprouted, even if it came accompanied with a little ache. The sun was lowering all too quickly on the horizon, however; and Amelia Rose still had one particular story she wanted to hear before she had to go. 

“Okay okay, I know you’ve already introduced practically everyone, but you’re missing one person.” She shifted on the floor to now face Emely, but refused to break the nearness they had reached. She perched herself on her side and laid on her arm that was still on Emely’s lap. 

“And who exactly is that?”

“You, of course.”

Emely’s newfound smile faltered and dissolved. She broke eye contact with Amelia Rose but had not stopped caressing the side of her face. It took everything in Amelia Rose not to pressure her and continue asking her to go on. She knew she had to give her a second, but she was also scared she had spooked her and ruined the friendship they had just begun to form. 

Yes, Mrs. Weston wasn’t the only person she could grow close to. But Amelia Rose couldn’t help but feel she was the one she was meant to meet. There had to be a reason for her sudd—. Amelia Rose stopped the memory from forming, and simply held that there had to be a reason, period. No need for further sadness to be added in the way Mrs. Weston said it always did. 

“Well,” Emely began, pulling Amelia Rose from her inner turmoil, “I was married for several years.” Emely hadn’t continued like the other introductions. She took slight pauses in between  reminiscing and the memory of what her life had been. 

“My parents passed when I was still in my twenties, but they were buried in another cemetery of the state. My husband and I moved away so I never really visited. That’s something I regret—especially now.”

Amelia Rose stayed silent, afraid to break the spell.

“When I finally got here to Elmwood, I was really left alone. We never had kids, my husband and I. I was an only child my entire life, so there’s no siblings either. I lost my friends gradually as the years went on.”

The breeze danced around them., accompanying a short silence.

“I had never really minded the solitariness before though. Not until I got here and all I had left was to think about how I spent my entire life alone essentially—with no one to remember me. No one to think about me.”

“What about your husband?”

Another moment passed between them.

“Daniel remarried and had kids.”

Again. 

“I’m glad he did though. This isn’t something I would’ve wished for him.” 

Amelia Rose closed her eyes and hold in the tears that threatened to fall. Emely stroked her cheek, “Hey,—now it’s your turn to answer my questions.” She smiled down at the angel at her feet. The solace that had always burdened her reflected back in those forest green eyes. Tenfold. They were glassy from the tears they held back. But something told Emely that those tears and that sadness was not all for her.

“C’mon kid,” Emely encouraged, “you can’t leave me hanging can ya?”

Her joking manner didn’t do much to ease the tension or conjure the smallest of smiles the way it had before. Instead, it seemed to bury Amelia Rose deeper in thought. Emely, instead of insisting, decided to keep caressing Amelia Rose’s hair in silence, giving her a moment to reflect. Eventually though, like clockwork, Amelia Rose took a peak at the position of the sun in the sky and stood.

“Maybe tomorrow, Mrs. Weston.” With the faintest smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she started to walk down the path. No other explanations given. She was up, and she was gone—her hands held behind her back as she fiddled with her charms.

~

Emely sat there looking out at the same spot where Amelia Rose had walked away, even after she had gone and was out of sight. Gentle tears slowly strolled down her cheeks as the cold she didn’t know she could still feel seeped into her chest. It gave her chills. And so, she stood from her chair and began to pace in her condensed space. After a few more paces, Emely decided she was done letting herself spiral. More so, she was adamant on not letting Amelia Rose do so. Not on her own. Not the way Emely herself had done for the last decade. 

So, Emely set out in the direction Amelia Rose had gone—down the path, further than she’d ever cared to go. As she did, Emely looked around in search of her green eyed angel, hoping to use her white summer dress like a beacon. After a few more minutes, Emely found her, but not alone. 

Amelia Rose sat on top of her own stone with her ankles crossed in front. A woman and a man stood a few steps in front of her, holding a fresh bouquet and each other. 

Her parents. 

The woman had Amelia Rose’s same chocolate curls, except shorter, and the man, Emely quickly noticed, had the same forest green eyes—except they were bloodshot and looked heavy. Both stood there, disheveled and dressed in white like Amelia Rose. He wore a white button down with pale kaki slacks, and she wore a white blouse with a matching cardigan on top and pale blue jeans. 

More than anything, they seemed utterly broken. Like they were drowning in their own grief but also not entirely interested in changing that. Neither one said a word. Not for a long while. They just cried silently, holding each other and staring at the grave in front of them.

Amelia Rose stood up to get closer to them. They were tall, taller than her— but they looked so small. Amelia Rose reached up to stoke her mother’s cheek, her own tears silently taking over her face. With a sorrowed smile and in between gentle sobs she called out, “Hi Mami. Hi Papi.”

Emely neared slowly. 

“I miss you—I really, really miss you.”

Emely looked over at the engraving:

Amelia Rose Condado

Beloved Daughter

May 1998 - October 2011

“What was once lost, can always be found.”

“I promise I’m okay though. You don’t have to worry about me I’m—” She stopped to catch her breath. Emely walked closer to place a stray curl behind Amelia Rose’s ear. The same forest green eyes looked up, now aware of Emely.

“I’m not alone.” She finished, never braking eye contact with Emely. 

They stood there together for the rest of the time that Amelia Rose’s parents visited. They watched as they replaced the now wilted bouquet from before, and cleaned off her grave from the leaves of the season. Before leaving, Amelia Rose’s mother had walked up to place a quick kiss the top of the stone and whispered, “Te amó mi nena” while her father caressed the top. Amelia Rose took her previous seat as they walked away, and Emely stood next to her behind it. 

Neither one pressured the other to speak . They simply stayed  and let the sun set. Eventually, Amelia Rose spoke without looking at Mrs. Weston, “The day we met was only days after the accident.”

Emely face forward, silently listening. 

“I had spent them here, on top of this stone, alone, waiting for my parents to come by.”

Emely looked up at the soft glow of the moon. 

“When Benji walked by, he always said hello and I always responded. But that day that we met, I decided there had to be more to all of this. Dying had to be more than this.”

Emely stayed silent, amazed and in admiration of all the determination this girl had displayed. This will to find more in death. 

Peace in death. 

The peace they’d been promised when their names were engraved on that stone.  Life goes on, the seasons do too—but in a way, so does death. They see that now. 

“It is,” Emely answered, “It comes with finding peace I think.”

Amelia Rose looked over at her, green eyes piercing, even in the stillness of the night. 

“But peace isn’t necessarily something you find.”

Seventy-nine and Thirteen. Almost an entire century, and only the start of another.

“It’s not simply set in stone and definitive or automatic. It changes and evolves.”

They both broke eye contact to look up at the stars.

“I think it’s something you become.”