The Sacrifice

Waves of memories flooded her mind. Each a kaliedscope of color and music that seemed to dance slower as a doll in a music box, winding down to the last note .She touched the silk scarf around her neck, remembering that time long ago when he had given it to her. Why she had kept it all these years, she knew not. She had never worn it since that night because its colors were so bright, but now it had faded, just as she had. Years of misuse, lying in a mothball scented drawer, never taken out except at times, when she wanted to touch just for a moment,to remember that special time.Then placing it back to be left for years, until once again, it would be taken out to remember.1

Raised dirt poor on a reservation, she had promised herself to never return once she left that place. She dreamed of a nice home, money and a man that loved her enough to give her all the things her heart desired. One man loved her once long ago, with all his soul, but he was the same as she, dirt poor. He loved his land, horses and everything that was represented by the old ways. She wanted more and told him so on the night that she decided to leave. He told her that he would always be waiting there if she ever decided to return, laughing she spate at him, not ever! That was the night he gave her this scarf. He told her it contained all the dreams that he ever dreamed. That each time she looked at it, to remember he would still be waiting for her to return. Now she was coming home to attend his funeral for her grandfather had insisted..He said it was only right to respect his memory with one last goodbye. His ashes were to be scattered to the fours winds upon the land he loved. Too late now, she knows how much she really loved him. It had been twenty years and he had never married. Instead a drunk driver had taken away the only man who had known what true love really was.2

Now it slips from around her neck, as the wind lifts it gently in her fingers. She holds it in the air, as a flag of denial, to all that once was and now is. What was it that seemed to be waiting in the back of her subconciousness? She couldn't quite remember it although she tried. Too many things crowded it back, further and further until it was almost impossible to find. Her head ached with trying, so she let it go for the moment. Letting the car slowly ease over to the side of the road, she stops. Lying her head back on the seat, she closed her eyes to rest a moment. Sleep gently drew her towards unconciousness and the darkness of her dreams.3

A young girl of eight sits crosslegged on the ground, listening to tales of a magic place that only the pure of heart could find. A place where Heaven was supposed to touch the earth and whoever found it would live there forever in beauty with their loved ones. Waterfalls mist made rainbows of color over white fluffly clouds tinted pink and blue like cotton candy, hiding the garden of flowers and trees in the valley below. It was Eden for all who could find it. Many had looked, although no one knew if it had been found, for none returned to tell the story.4

In her dreams, she saw it now. It's magic weaved itself throughout her body and she could feel, taste and smell the sweetness of the beauty it promised. The key of entry to that magic place was to make the supreme sacrifice. It has always been a tribal affair to her, a sacrifice was needed and she knew just where to offer up. Still in dreamsleep, she slips from the car and steps to the side of the cliff, the scarf still clinging to her fingers. She lets the wind catch it again and as it slips away into the waning moonlight, she spreads her arms and steps off the edge, just as the sun peeps over the mountains and shows her the rainbow water mists and marshmallow clouds. Soaring as an eagle, she disappears into the clouds as one white feather floats silently to the ground. The winds whisper softly,
Walk on a rainbow trail; walk on a trail of song,
and all about you will be beauty.
There is a way out of every dark mist,
Over a rainbow trail.5

6


7