Freedom is a Four Letter Word

The Story of Elinore and her Freedom found in Love

Thoughts as Prayers is a creation of short stories utilizing concepts of inspiration through real world application. We live in a complex system of body, mind, and soul. Here are the stories that highlight the light within the shadow, the soultion within the challenge.

Photo by Erwan Hesry

Elinore fought every urge to fidget.

She had tried to sit still at the table just as she had been taught, but jiggles in her legs had started and now she couldn’t seem to get them to quit.

“You were made for more than this. You were made for great flights across oceans. You will lead people to do great things. You will be a master of language, inspiration.”

“Shhh.” Elinore risked a small noise to quiet Ty. 

When Elinore had taken her seat at the table Ty had tucked his wings around his small body and leaned against her chair. His gentle blue glow a reminder to Elinore that she was not alone.

“Elinore, sit up straight and eat your dinner.”

Mother intoned for the third time while Father and Denise continued their argument about something Elinore didn’t understand.

“It’s called an exploratory essay, what does it matter if I wrote it in poetry format? My poetry is exploratory.”

Denise sat directly across from Elinore at the table. She was in her beautiful blue dress with her hair curled in the exact style she had shown Elinore in a beauty magazine the day before. Denise was the best big sister. 

“Denise you are smart enough to know the difference.” 

Father spat out as he set his spoon down noisily. He was glaring at Denise, his color rising.

Elinore looked down at Ty. He was rocking himself now. If they kept it up he would disappear and then Elinore would have no one to play with after dinner. 

She sat up taller and attempted to see into the bowl placed before her. She was just slightly taller than the bowl which meant she could just see over the lip at the bright orange liquid that sat within it. It smelled garlicky and sweet.

Soup was a hard meal. It was hot, messy, and slurpy. To navigate the dinner table with all its rules was a challenge normally, soup seemed like a task she wasn’t ready for today; especially if she wasn’t allowed to sit on her knees where she could reach it properly. She looked at the spoon, too large for her mouth, and began to stir the liquid like Denise was doing.

“Elinore do not play with your food.”

Mother was watching her, eyebrows meeting in the middle of her forehead in consternation. Elinore let the spoon rest on the side of the bowl as quietly as she could.

“Elbows off the table!” Mother snapped.

This brought the attention that Father was giving Denise to her. She started to sink downward in her seat to make herself small and felt the bump of Ty against her shoe. His presence gave her courage and she smiled.

“What are you smiling at, Elinore?”

Elinore blinked, the smile disappearing along with Ty. She looked down at her hands in her lap, below she could see his pale blue light was indeed gone.

“I asked you a question.” Her Father’s voice was measured, stern.

“Nothing, Father.” Elinore whispered.

She was trying to remember the list of rules she had been given when she was told she could join the family for dinner in the dining room, she didn’t remember smiling being on that list.

“So you were just smiling to…smile?”

He held his spoon in his right hand hovering in the air. Elinore chanced a glance at his face and saw no light, no love. He looked angry.

She nodded her head. She had learned the hard way not to mention Ty to anyone except Denise.

Her legs were moving again and with it her chair. She knew she would be spotted fidgeting but she couldn’t control it any more.

Her leg kicked wildly hitting the underside of the table with a loud thump making everything jump slightly. Rattling china, glasses, and soup sloshed. In the instant of a breath all the tableware settled, within that settling there was a sensation of freedom.

Then her Father pounced.

He grabbed her too hard by the arms, setting her down on the floor so hard she bit her tongue. The tears with a taste of blood mingled. She held back any sound by clenching her fists and closing her eyes. The clicking of her Mother’s heels announced her approach. 

She steered Elinore out of the dining room, down the hall, into the kitchen where Mrs. Bess was cleaning up after cooking.

“I’m afraid Elinore will be joining you for dinner tonight.”

Her Mother’s voice sounded empty. She deposited Elinore at the kitchen table and walked out without a word to Elinore. Mrs. Bess was next to her an instant later.

“What happened baby?” 

She was wiping Elinor’s face with the warm towel that she always had tucked in her apron. 

Elinore stuck out her tongue, the restraint of trying not to cry had silenced her.

Mrs. Bess leaned in. “Let’s see.” She moved Elinor’s head this way and that. 

“Oh yes, we can take care of that. I bet some ice cream will fix it right up.” 

Mrs. Bess shuffled off and left Elinore with her feelings. She looked out at the big oak trees that grew in the back yard. That was where she would always meet Ty. 

“I will never leave your side unless the love in your heart is replaced by fear.” 

He had told her that once. She didn’t completely understand but he told her she would eventually. She held onto the thought. 

He also told her that he was always with her even when she couldn’t seem him but he couldn’t speak to her through the fear. She really didn’t understand that either but she hoped someday she would. 

“The more rules that are placed upon you the harder it is for me to be here.” 

She had sighed at his comment. The rules she had to conform to seemed to grow as she did. They were a weight even she didn’t think should could manage so she understood his difficulties. 

“But you must remember, always remember, I am with you here.” 

He had pointed to a spot on her chest and told her that he lived on the inside where no-one could take him away. 

She ate her ice cream and kept her hand on the spot he had pointed in hopes he was enjoying desert.

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Today’s story was inspired by the concept of Freedom found in Esoteric teachings. Freedom is not just an idea of being able to do or say what you want. It’s more about how free we manage to live inside the spirit of who we truly are at our core. Elinore’s story was born, as all my stories are, out of a vision and in conjunction with the creative spirit that guides my words.

May the details of the story stir the memory of the great Spirit that lives within you.

Sending you Love and Light in all you do,

Lenaleah 💕