Into the Night

The prompt photo for this story was a beautiful woman above a castle with birds. I'll give extra points to anyone who gets what/who I'm referencing or referring to with my story. I'm not sure anyone will get it lol

One last tear rolled down her dewy soft cheek. She quickly brushed it away and headed toward the window. She stopped when she caught sight of her passing reflection in the mirror. Men had always found her beauty fascinating. They had been known to trip over their own two feet while gawking at her. She grimaced as she remembered the first fight that broke out over who could escort her across the cobblestones. And then there was poor Annas. His was the first blood shed in her name. 

She shook her head to erase the memory. Outside, the crows startled, alerting her to his arrival. She smiled as she watched a ladder silently placed against the palace wall.

He pulled her close through the window. “Are you ready, my dear?” Her heart lifted as she settled against him. “Yes, Love,” she replied, happy that she would no longer be the cause of jealousy and anger among men.  Because, finally, she had found a man who loved her for more than her beauty.

Riding into the night, Helen never looked back.

Two New Flash Pieces

These are two new flash stories I've written recently. I posted them on Bubblews so I can't repost them here, but I can put the links for y'all to read if you like. One of the stories is a sweet story. Yes, I managed to write a story and not kill anybody!

Love in the Afternoon:

http://www.bubblews.com/news/1208312-love-in-the-afternoon

Salad Days:

http://www.bubblews.com/news/1175503-salad-days


I hope y'all enjoy the stories.

A Single Touch

“I’m sorry, young man, I don’t seem to know my own strength sometimes,” I said after yanking the door right out of the stranger’s hand. “Guess I get in too big a hurry and forget my manners. Please,” I added and gestured for him to go ahead. “Have a nice day now.”

I watched as he and the young lady who came out right behind him walked away. I couldn’t tell if they were together or not at first. They were both so stiff you’d think somebody starched their pants and they walked like they had sticks up their butts as my daddy used to say. 

I stood so long staring that my arm about gave out from holding the door open, but there was just something about the young man that struck my fancy. I can’t say what it was really. He reminded me a little of my Arthur, God rest his soul, but I don’t think that was it. I just don’t like to see anybody upset, and he was definitely that. And I do believe it had something to do with the girl following him.

I thought if he’d only turn around and take her hand, everything would be okay. Don’t know where I got that notion, because I still didn’t know if they were together, but it looked like she’d enjoy the gesture, and I didn’t think it would hurt the young man to have a comforting touch either. 

They waited at the bus stop, separated by no more than six inches, but miles apart it seemed. I saw her glance at him more than once and then quickly look away before he noticed. He seemed to inch closer to her the longer they stood until they were but a hair’s breadth apart. 

Finally, I could stand it no longer and I went over. After all, my appointment with the oncologist could wait. And if it didn’t, well, that wouldn’t matter either. I only had weeks to live anyway and was about tired of spending half my time at the doctor’s office.

The young man liked to have jumped out of his skin when I tapped him on the shoulder, which made the lady giggle. I was about to say something when the young man blushed and started to laugh as well. The girl then playfully hit his arm and said, “You’re as jumpy as a rabbit.” 

After that, I knew my help was unneeded. The young man grabbed the lady in his arms and whispered that he was sorry, and that everything would be okay. 

I left when they started kissing.

Many Feeted Love

I love the way he tickles my nose when he’s exploring. The feather light touch of each little leg makes goosebumps all over my body. When he crawls in my ears, now that’s another matter. It absolutely drives me crazy, and I think he knows it because he keeps rushing, well as much as a centipede can rush, right for my ears. 

When I push him away, I swear he smiles. I know, a centipede can’t smile, but if you saw the upturned look on his face, you’d be convinced as well. He takes pleasure in my discomfort. Of course, it could be revenge as well.

After all, I do keep him around for my amusement. I don’t see what he has to complain about, but he must not like it because he keeps trying to escape. Even though I have bonsai trees from him to crawl all over and house plants galore. Somehow, he knows he’s still not outside. 

I’ve caught him climbing up the wall toward the window more times than I can count. He’s running as fast as his many legs can take him. I sit back and watch until he reaches the window seal and then I snag him up. I know, it’s sadistic. I could pick him up at the bottom and he wouldn’t wear himself out. I always tell people we have a love hate relationship.

I sometimes think about letting him go, but not for long. Who would entertain me if he were gone?

It’s time to put him to bed. I even put a fake tree in his glass cage, but that doesn’t make him happy. He completely ignores it and lays in a corner all balled up. Oh well, you can’t please some people, or worms in this case.

***

I feel awful this morning. I know what the problem is, my stupid sleep walking habit. I never know what I do during the night, but I can always tell when I’ve been up roaming because I feel like I haven’t slept at all. I think I’ll go see Willy. He always cheers me up. 

Oh no! What have I done? 

I nudge him with my toe but he doesn’t move. I’m not really that far gone. I knew he wouldn’t move. Half his body has been squished. I pick his crushed little body up and give it a closer look. Interesting. His insides look funny. 

Oh well, no time to dwell on the past. Into the trash with Willy. I’ll find me another little friend at the park later today. Maybe the next one won’t like ears so much.

Brought to Your Knees

For today's story I mixed the Three Word Wednesday prompt with this prompt:

Happy Monday, everyone! Today's prompt comes from "Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises from Today's Best Writer's & Teachers."

"The Wedding Picture exercise can be an evocative one-page fiction assignment. The exercise is to ask students to color copy their own wedding photograph, that of their parents, or an anonymous wedding picture, and to write a one-page fiction inspired by the image."

I hope y'all enjoy the outcome.

It seemed fitting, Sarah thought, that they should end up on their knees. It was a place they were familiar with, having been brought there on numerous occasions throughout their life together. She knew the outcome wasn’t certain, that with God anything was possible, but Sarah believed evil was going to finally win.

“Forgive them, Father,” Sarah started to pray, but was cut off when the taller one hit her, knocking her over backward. She saw Paul strain against his bonds to get to her and tried to tell him she loved him, but her jaw no longer worked. She couldn’t even scream, but had to endure the agonizing pain in silence. 

Sarah remembered another time when she couldn’t talk to Paul, although that time it was all on them. They were the cause of the problems back then that had almost ended their relationship. Sarah had never regretted the sleepless nights spent blaming Paul for something out of his control more than she did in that moment. 

She came to believe the doctor’s, and knew that Melissa would still have died, even if Paul had gotten home on time, but it had taken her way too long. Sarah knew she wasted months of their lives that could have been spent growing closer, pushing him away. Paul had forgiven her, after he forgave himself, and they worked their way back to each other. 

They had both spent hours on their knees thanking God for saving their marriage, and later, Sarah remembered her knees being bruised from all the kneeling during her second pregnancy. Paul was right there beside her, holding her hand. She wished she could hold his hand again.

The intruders had made sure that wasn’t possible from the start. They rang the doorbell, and when Paul answered, burst through the door so quickly they knocked him down. Before he could get up, the smaller man hit him over the head with the butt of a rifle. Sarah screamed and ran to Paul’s side, begging the men to take whatever they wanted and just leave. Little did she know that what they wanted was everything.

As far as Sarah could tell, there was no reason for the attack. She tried to cling to the small hope that a neighbor had heard her screams earlier, but as the night wore on, it became harder, and finally, there was no hope left. 

Both Sarah and Paul watched the strangers murmur to each other and then look their way. Paul inched closer to Sarah and she pushed her head into his shoulder and cried. When they heard the hammer cock, Sarah raised her head and kissed Paul one last time.

X Marks the Spot

Marcy looked at the map. She wondered if Ted would think it creative and fun or childish and silly. She hoped he had enough imagination to play along. Marcy didn’t think she could be with someone who wasn’t a little twisted.

Oh well, she decided, only one way to find out. She folded the map and tucked it in Ted’s sports coat. She knew it was the same pocket Ted kept his cell phone in so he was sure to find the map. Marcy then kissed Ted lightly on the cheek so as not to wake him and left.

***

It was four hours later, and Marcy still waited. She knew it would take a while for Ted to find the note. He would get up, shower and dress, and then put his cell phone in his pocket right before leaving. What she didn’t know, was what he’d do after he found the map.

Would he shake his head and throw it away? Be completely puzzled and try to call her to find out what was going on, or follow the clues?

Marcy hoped he picked the last option, and that he would be there soon because it was getting cold. 

She knew it would take him a while to find all the clues. He wasn’t as used to the area as she was, but he was clever. That was one of the things Marcy loved about Ted, along with his smokin’ hot body. 

She was still thinking of that body when she heard someone at the door. A key slid into the keyhole and the door slowly opened. Marcy smiled when she heard Ted whisper her name.

“Yes, baby, it’s me,” she purred. “Come and get your prize,” she added and held out her arms. 

The fire in Ted’s eyes was all the answer Marcy needed to know she’d finally picked the right man. When he picked her up in his arms, the map fell to the floor. The big red X in the center not the only spot Ted found that was just right that night.

Three for Three Word Wednesday Again

Three short pieces for Three Word Wednesday this week.

Story 1:

Only a remnant of the fragrant blossoms remained after the jostle the nursery van took upon impact with the other car.

Story 2:

The fragrant blossom left a remnant of scent on Travis’s suit coat even after he was jostled and the actual flower was crushed underfoot.

Story 3:

“Let me jostle your memory,” Sean whispered and held the fragrant lavender under Sarah’s nose. “Does that bring back even a remnant of the love we once shared,” he asked and then lowered his head and cried when no answer was forthcoming from his wife’s paralyzed lips.