She lay on her side in the semi-dark room; barely breathing; right leg dangling off the edge of the bed as if she might make a break for it at any moment. The television a dull white noise, as if hummingbirds were endlessly whirling their wings.
Trapped beneath the heavy arm he wrapped around her, she clings to fifteen inches of the king sized bed she shares with her husband of decades. His breath whistles slightly, warming her neck; his body conforms to hers, as it has every night since the first. Tonight, just as every night she will be sleepless as he dreams; of what she wonders, not her.
Tomorrow he will hug her and smile as he leaves for work. She is lonely after all these years, possessiveness doesn’t equal love, she learned. Someday her right foot will hit the ground and she will run like the wind.
Flash in the Pan is brought to you by the amazing Red of M3 fame. This week’s word is Lonely. The word limit for January is 150 words. This one comes in precisely at 150.
Together and yet, so far apart. This state of affairs (pun unintended) is unfortunately quite prevalent I fear.
Good penmanship, Val – okay, penwomanship, or is that penpersonship – you know what I mean
P/s Sorry, but I am being a little smart alecky today.
Smart alecky is perfectly fine here at QBG, it is in truth quite welcome. I agree with you Eric this state of affair is all to prevalent these days. Sad really.
Oh my. Sad, really, even true to be sure, WOW, Valentine. The image of her ‘imprisoned’ beneath his heavy arm is palpable. This is fabulous, Valentine.
I try not to read Flash in the Pan posts before I’ve already used the word in order not to get mixed up in some else’s story. Mine is half-written so I may be OK.
This one sat heavily on my heart until I wrote it. I know her.
Well done, Val !
Thanks!
This one is one understandable… being with someone to not be alone rather than for love and strength and … very powerful!
Precisely, so many make just that choice. Fear is a terrible motivator.
I don’t think her right foot will ever hit the floor.
Nice little piece.
You know Bill, you pierce the other side of her heart, fear may keep her there.
Beautifully written as always Val. But you put me inside her head so that I was ready to run myself!
I am glad, that means I was successful.
Quite!
You have a truly delightful style of
xx
writing Val and I really enjoyed this one
Thank you my dear friend. I am glad you enjoyed this one. I thought it was a bit sad.
Yes it is rather sad but you have a lovely talent for writing these FTP’s and this is what I was meaning
I do hope that you are feeling well
xxx
this evening and are relaxing a little
Beautifully done. Now I want the rest of the story!
I don’t think it has been written yet Susan, but perhaps soon.
Poor thing. Is it menopause or is she just bored?
Or just lonely in her bubble of possessed but friendless. Who knows Totsymae, who knows the inner workings of any marriage or any heart.
Really great piece, Valentine! Loved it.
Thank you Carrie. It rattled my brain demanding a white page for weeks after I saw the word.
This is fabulous. Very evocative. Gripping imagery. xxx
From you I take that as the highest of compliments. Thank you.