Susan L. Marshall > Quotes

“This old memory of me is here,
a more recent memory may
be somewhere else.
You'll find me where you need to.
The stems will help guide you.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“Staring ahead, I felt my body clutched and clawed at. Strong words of desperation were cried
into my ears. I felt a deep responsibility for the people and the situations that they found
themselves in. I also felt helpless to prevent the Emperor from causing any more harm.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Can you see us, Celia?
More of us have risen from the grass
that your bare, searching feet have sunken into.
Steadfast and sturdy are we, Agapanthus africanus.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“A young girl’s stroke has breathed us life
upon this luscious, grassy meadow.
Unbound we float in the aether,
protecting the sanctuary of life below.

To grow, this world needs nurturing
only Lady Solary’s warmth can provide.
Yet light flickers briefly then fades,
like a struck match failing to ignite.”
― Susan L. Marshall, All the Hope We Carry

“I stop in my tracks, turning to face Girl. She is limping across the grass.

I can do this!

Reaching out, I lift her in both my arms. She straddles her legs around my waist and leans her head against my left shoulder.

Girl is heavy but I seem to manage. Finding my inner strength, I support her weight in my arms. My feet continue to pelt across the grass and onto the cement
of the car park.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“For a moment I breathe softly,
my heart dancing in memories
of your gentle words and touch.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“My arms are light and free
and my body is outstretched,
kissing the blue streaks.
I can breathe freely here.
It is soothing this moment,
an elation I treasure.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“It is darker than usual in my chamber tonight, not having you here to light the tallow candles as you usually do. I used to find comfort in your warm smile as you would spark light throughout my melancholy space.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Girl’s two green eyes peer out from behind a dark blue blanket. They do not stare directly at me.

Here hides Girl, existing as a cover name, like me.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Are you alright?” Mitch reaches out to assist me.

“I can look after myself,” I stumble through my words, asserting my independence.

“Oh, I know that,” Mitch says, his eyes boring into me as my feet hit the grass.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Old, yet beloved to my family,
the cart is marked with the prints
and sweat of our ancestors,
who began our journeys in trade.

I carry our world in this cart,
wares we have taken ages to create.
Foraging through earth and trees
to source our natural ingredients.

Wares I push with deep pride,
along the sloping, uneven terrain.
I can travel further with the cart
and expand my avenues for trade.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Gritting my teeth with determination, I floor the accelerator again, trying to gain as
much distance as I can away from Redfin. Third gear it is! The wind is even stronger now and I feel like my hair is going to fly off my head. A strong whipping sound bursts into my ears as I floor the accelerator one more, engaging fourth gear. Nouveau Road is
wide and long enough to take the truck and its speed for a little while.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“The wax of my single tallow candle has melted considerably and only a tiny spark of life remains in its fire. As I sit at this desk, its flailing light bewitches me. My hands are clutched tightly together, trying to summon my energy to regain my composure.
Inside my heart, a deep sadness resides, creeping its way through my body.

Lowering my hands to my womb, I feel a great sense of hollow emptiness. Once there sat a precious life, wrestling its way inside my being and sparking my heart with love and hope.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“I am so distracted,
stuck somewhere between
the earth and sky,
unsure where to set my eyes.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“Standing still, I watched the world heave and swirl around me in the air. The sandy earth of the beach was making itself visible to my young heart, reminding me that it still lived and breathed. I grounded myself in the granules and refused to let the wind take me away.

I could barely see through the thick yellow sand that smeared the air. It held me entranced within its existence.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“After a moment,
my breathing settles,
so does the breeze.
It is calm now,
still and silent.

The stems drop gently
over my head, face and arms.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“We must fight for our hopes, Samuel,
they are too precious to lose.
If we carry enough hope, we can heal the world.

So, let this light carry our hopes
and dress the world in bright colours,
just like this alluring rainbow.”
― Susan L. Marshall, All the Hope We Carry

“What a mess,” Girl says, staring at the floor. Bending down, she retrieves the special papers. “Our existence is full of dates, times and places now,” she points at the papers. Shuffling them into a neat pile, she places them back into the folder and hands it to me.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“I stared silently at the flame, allowing it to soothe my pounding heart. It was light, it was life and it was connected to my mother.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“You are so warm, Fleur.
I can feel your heart beat.
It's like a million butterfly wings,
giving life to my fleeting soul.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“Clutch the cloth close to your heart,
let its creation speak its art.
Share its journeys across the land,
away from the dark horse’s hand.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“One night, we workers formed a circle around the tallow candle as it burned, allowing each
other to bond by holding hands. It felt strange to connect with fellow people from Mira again. We have all become estranged from each other as we slave away for the woman leader.

In our circle, we closed our eyes and prayed. I pictured the streets of Mira, adorned with the rugged rawness of our original footprints. We once stepped together or
passed each other by, busy but comfortable with our work in various trades. Now we are anonymous, our identities stripped away from us.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Beginning to slow down, my mother walked at a steady pace, cutting through the village and heading down to the sandy shore. The strength in her was admirable as she continued to carry me, even as she struggled to trek through the deep sand.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“You are very sane, Fleur,
in an unsettled world
that is trying to stop and rest.
Yesterday is yet to
catch up with the present.
It awaits a conclusion.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“There has to be something left, Fleur.
A petal, a carpel, anything that may
have propelled itself into that air.
Fought to breathe, to exist.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday

“The Emperor likes to keep an eye on all mail sent from the palace and so he does
not approve of the use of envelopes. So I have learned how to employ the ancient art of letter locking: delicately folding and slitting sections of the letter and gluing them down with adhesive where necessary. I feel a lightness of life to know that my words in this letter are sealed away and will only be revealed to you.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“My heart is beating furiously but I harness my strength. Grabbing the Chief’s hands
from around my back, I twist around and free myself. “Don’t move,” I say, grasping
him firmly around the neck in a tight headlock. “Or I will strengthen my grip.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“For a split moment, time stopped as I was faced with the rugged beauty of my mother. There she stood in her tattered dress, her bare feet almost completely
buried in the sand. Across her shoulder lay two skinned rabbits, which she had captured for us to eat. In her hand, she carried a single, tallow candle, which was stubbornly sparking its fire into the sky.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Father reaches out to touch my scarf. “Your mother’s scarf,” he says softly. “She loved this so very much, you know. I remember her creative streak, how she refused
to use the strong dye colours that we usually use for silk design. Instead, she preferred a shade of white, which would not sell as successfully in trade. She loved
this scarf, the way it sat humbly around her neck and gave her senses of comfort and peace as she held you tight. You would often beg to wear it, Aisha.”

I stroke the scarf subconsciously. A memory flashes in my mind of my mother’s shaking hands as she shaped spun silk into this beautiful scarf. My gentle mother,
who coughed violently and shook, plagued she was with an illness that had deteriorated her immensely. I spent every moment I could with her, my heart
knowing that each might be my last.

“Beautiful Aisha, wear this scarf with your love,” said my mother one morning as she tied it around my neck.

I stared at her, my lips wobbling as tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’ll wear it, always loving you, Mother,” I replied. My mother nodded, her eyes also filling with tears as she realised that I understood how little time we had left together.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Adira and the Dark Horse

“Growth and senescence exists within me.
Each dawn, I am rejuvenated with the sun's glow
and with a fresh, new clove scent.
A scent that helps keep us both alert.”
― Susan L. Marshall, Fleur of Yesterday