The queen and the river

'The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished'. But she hadn't vanished, at least not completely. Not yet. Leona sat alone by the river contemplating the frailty of her mortal body. How does one go from being queen of her existence, of her full and carefree happy life, to the depth of contemplation of the abyss of deep despair.

Maybe she was exaggerating, over thinking and getting lost in self-pity. Yet is it not human to feel deep within your soul that any day could be your last day of living. The years yawned sleepily ahead only yesterday, now today, any day that dawned when her eyes beheld the rising of the sun, was a blessing to be celebrated.

Leona heard the river gurgling as if it whispered words of encouragement and hope, it invited her in. She stood up, stripped herself stark naked and slowly immersed herself in the cool of the gentle river. The water welcomed her, warming to her body as she gently floated , she closed her eyes as she abandoned herself to the nothingness.

"Vanish Leona". The river spirit spoke from deep within the depths, soothing her worried thoughts. She did so willingly, as the river flowed backwards in time to her childhood memories and the gift of life that she had forgotten how to appreciate.

How to write of Leona, who is queen only of her soul, as she floats naked on a river trying to find the answers to her news that her existence is but a roll of the dice.

~~~

It is dawn, stillness speaks loudly. Leona floated upon the gentle current of the river, her bare form embraced by the cool, flowing water. The river, a silent companion to her thoughts, carried her through a landscape of mist and morning light. She was queen only of her own soul, a kingdom both vast and intimate, where she sought answers to the unsettling news that her existence is both transient and unpredictable.

As she drifted, the river spoke of the ages, its voice a soothing balm to her troubled mind. Leona's thoughts swirled like the eddies around her, grappling with the fragility of life and the uncertainty of her path. She had always believed in the constancy of her being, but now, faced with the truth of her impermanence, she felt adrift in a sea of doubt.

The river's flow mirrored the ebb and tide of her emotions, each ripple a reminder of the ever-changing nature of existence. Leona closed her eyes, surrendering to the rhythm of the water, and allowed herself to be carried by its gentle embrace. In this moment of vulnerability, she found a strange comfort in the river's constancy, its endless journey added steel and might to the beauty of life's unpredictability.

So what if her heart no longer had the certainty of wholesomeness to sustain her daily fights and triumphs. Those days gone behind and those days still eagerly waiting ahead invited life to be lived to the fullest.

The sun began to rise, casting a golden glow upon the water, Leona felt a shift within her soul. She realized that her quest for answers was not about finding certainty, but about embracing the unknown. Her existence, though fleeting, was an empty canvas just waiting for her to paint her daily existence within moments of beauty, pain, and wonder. It was in the acceptance of this truth that she would find her strength.

Leona, queen of her soul, again felt the river reverse its course, it silently took her back to her bodily coverings, she would need to be fully clad, both literally and figuratively for the days ahead.

Her heart was lighter and her spirit renewed. The river, her silent confidant, continued its journey, bidding her strength and certainty in the face of the unknown, where she would face each day with courage and grace.

If you are willing to listen, I will regale you of how a river flowing backwards forged a path of bravery and courage in the life of Leona. But that is for another time, if you have the patience to wait.

For now, the Queen needs to tend to her health.

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