A Reprise

She had entered the holy temple. It was cool and dripping with the smell of incense, like the cave she loved. She felt Sam standing next to her in a tailored brown suit with a matching vest, which she had never seen him wear, and so dressed he looked much younger than she was accustomed to. The fragrance of his mother and sisters stuck in her throat like taffy. They were wearing separate, loud colognes that blurred momentarily in the narthex, making Lilith long for the scents of sweat and salt water, unpretentious and undemanding. Her breath trembled to come out of her, but she forced it back in like a fisherman plunging struggling fish into a bucket. Mr. Zimmerman’s meaty, hairy arms flashed before her eyes. Emmaline was wearing a delicate pink dress that attacked Lilith’s yellow linen like a bloodthirsty dragon, reducing it to tattered shreds around her scuffed ankle boots. Lilith’s head felt as stiff as a basket from the spray she had used to tame her hair. Emmaline’s hair was s

This morning I awaken in Lilith's land. As soon as we stepped out of the airport I was suffused with warm, fragrant air. As we made our way to the parking garage palm trees and swaying vines loomed over us. As we drove to our hotel I looked out the window and saw lakes, and lakes, and pine trees silhouetted against the sky, above which was a 22% waxing moon settled comfortably like the Cheshire cat's smile. I did not expect all of the pine trees, or all of the lakes. Am I wrong for wishing Disney World were not here?