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[nonsensical-fae.livejournal.com]

the nishi


viii

that night she took out the harmonium, the first time since father left. it was covered in cobwebs, but she didn't dust them away. they clung to her fingers as she played. she let me stay and listen. outside, a storm. when the thunder came, she let me hide my face in her lap. she was singing love songs. she sang for hours, till her voice cracked. then she told me the tale of the nishi. she held me till i slept, and when she put me to bed, she locked me in. it was an act of kindness, i think, so i would not be the first to discover her body hanging from the ceiling of the bedroom that was now her alone.


ix

the nishi said my mother, are the spirits of those who die violent deaths. they come to you at night and call your name in the voice you love most. but you must never answer them, for if you do, they suck away your soul.

leaving yuba city
by
chitra banerjee divakaruni