Logs:Vignette - Kaddish
| Vignette - Kaddish | |
|---|---|
| Dramatis Personae | |
| In Absentia
|
2019-05-11 "B’rich Hu." (Followed by informing Jax.) |
| Location
<NYC> Congregation Anshei Shalom - Jamaica Estates | |
The building is old and humble, its pale stone facades and simple round arches paying homage to Levantine architecture, with a subtle bas relief Star of David to identify it as a synagogue. Though it is by now in sore need of renovation, its fluorescent lights dim and flickery, ceiling tiles stained and sagging, on Saturday morning it is full -- of people, of music, of prayer. Though he's attending in the company of his uncles, aunts, and cousins, Spencer is standing now -- along with a few others scattered through the congregation -- while they sit. He's dressed in a sober gray suit, shiny blue wave-pattern tie impeccably tied in a complex trinity knot, and a kippah that matches the tie's color scheme, though the graphic on it is a single wave curling and crashing into a spiral. His head is bowed and his voice kind of quavery as he intones the ancient words of the prayer. "Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam..." He hastily swalllows a sob and presses his eyes closed, rocking gently back and forth. "...v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha, --"
"-- B’rich Hu." He opens his eyes and immediately slaps both hands over his mouth to stop from crying out. The tears that were already in his eyes pour out, blurring his view of Ryan lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to life support but -- to judge by the vitals monitor above him -- very much alive. He starts toward his friend but pulls back abruptly, shoving each hand under the opposing arm to /physically/ stop himself from trying to reach out. His head whips back and forth wildly, searching the room for any clue as to how this miracle came to pass. His breathing grows faster and he struggles to keep his whimpers quiet, hugging himself. And then he's gone again. | |
