For #LoIsInDaBl

 

I looked up at her from my bed as she was sitting there beside me. The screen above my head reported to the world, via a series of numbers and a moving graph, that I was still alive. Though we both knew that I wouldn’t be so for long.

It was easy, lying there useless, to compress all of those times when we had laughed, made love, argued, cried, got drunk, lied to each other or fallen asleep in each other’s arms into a single moment. And wonder what it meant. Two ordinary people within two ordinary lives.

She had no expression on her face. Or not one that I could interpret. So I asked, “Do you still love me?”

She looked at me carefully for what seemed a long time and sighed. “Oh,” she said eventually, “I think it’s much worse than that. I’m devoted to you.”

This for Nortina’s #1MinFiction

 

 

That’s me. In the photograph. On my mother’s knee all those years ago. Staring unknowingly into the future. So that the future, all these years later, might stare back. And wonder. What was going on?

They took her away, they said, because there was something wrong with her. Or because there was something wrong with me. I don’t remember. What would be the difference?

So I don’t know what was going on, either. I think, probably, that somebody was scared of something they didn’t understand.

That is at the heart of most things.

 

Michael

 

I seem, of late, to be developing a disturbing (and probably unhealthy) obsession with nuns.

But came across this #99word #flashfiction Challenge (99 words – no more – no less, to feature something black and white) this morning here and couldn’t resist……

 

Rowing away from the island he looked back and saw the disorganised black and white line marching towards the water’s edge. As the penguins plunged into the icy waters and suddenly achieved grace he was reminded of nuns and, in particular, the confused old women of his youth who, he imagined, may have achieved a surprising grace as they stepped from life and into the abyss.
And he wondered too, if they might be waiting there to judge him.
But the penguins and his memories were out of sight as he eased his wife’s body silently over the side.

Nortina’s #1MinFiction for this week is “won’t take no for an answer”, and here is the proof.

I’m beginning to think it should be “Naughtina” ….. is she trying to lead us into deep dark waters?

I only had a minute. That’s my excuse.

Girl we’ve come so far
To be together in this bar
And you’ve seen that I’m not much
Of a dancer
And I’m not your sort of guy
I’m normally too shy
Not normally a fast advancer
But fast I’m getting old
Outside it’s getting cold
I think you might be my
Last chancer
So you’ve really gotta know
That we’ve really gotta go
And I won’t take no
For an answer