YOU LIGHT UP THE SKY
Sometimes I sit and think of you, my periodic visitor; my
temporary blinding light.
The anticipation of your visit is
reminiscent of lighting the blue touch paper of a firework, then moving back to
wait, wondering if anything will happen.
As the bell rings, the flame has
caught. A whoosh inside me as I open the door and see your eyes dancing with
mine from under your thick brown fringe.
I put the kettle on. We talk, and
all around me I see stars. Your nearness evokes a spinning sensation in my
head, like a Catherine wheel, whirring out of control.
Those micro-seconds when you hold
me, the world lights up around me in a blast of starlight; momentarily
beautiful.
But then you leave.
Darkness. Chilling air and a
sense of loss.
The moment is over. It was never
mine to begin with.
This flash story is taken from my collection A Knowing Look and Other Stories.
I really enjoyed that, it reads like a poem: beautiful and perfect for Bonfire Night.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteLovely Rebecca.
ReplyDeleteThe juxtaposition between positive (and all that goes with it) and negative (likewise) is very strong. Nicely done! :)
ReplyDeleteThat was fantastic. And I agree, it did read like poetry. Very evocative.
ReplyDeleteBut she deserves her own moment, and now has better knowledge of how to create it.
ReplyDeleteThis was a fab story and in keeping with the standard of the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteAs has already been said, poetic, and deep.
ReplyDeleteLike fireworks, affairs can be hot, fiery, and brief.