The Unfinished Robe

by Ashley Harris

"One by one, the rivers of green, gold, and blue moved under and over each other, intermixing with the background hues and thickening into a brilliantly colored rectangular cloth. The cloth rose up until it was level with my eyes, floating above the parched grassland outside my bus window. I stared, unmoving on my brown, plastic bus seat, mesmerized by the individual strands of color embedded in the woven fabric. Each thread was a part of my recent past--Javier's sparkling blue eyes, the golden sunlight on this morning's grass, the orange tint of yesterday's sunset. I understood that I was beholding some sort of visual record, but I had no idea how or why I was seeing it. All I knew was that this floating cloth was telling my story in all of its beauty and brokenness." *** *** A young, bewildered mother sifts through her past after a surprise appearance from her deceased uncle, who has come asking for her help. She is seeking understanding about a colorful robe and a slowly leaking poison. As her deceased uncle continues to visit, he discloses a horrifying trauma that has poisoned him and the rest of their family. Recognizing the sickness in herself and fearing it will spread further, she is determined to discover how the poison transfers, help her heartsick uncle, and ultimately find the cure.

171 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2019