Shorties: Number 34

Full of nerves, Chris blurted, “I dreamed I kissed you.”

Startled, Jane paused for a moment as colour flooded her cheeks.  “What?”

There was no turning back now.  More nerves packed in.  Words stumbled out as he continued describing the scene they now acted out,  “Well, we was walking on a boardwalk holding hands.”  Then Chris reached and took Jane’s left hand.  Her fingers felt soft as they curled around and clasped his hand.  Euphoria swept through both of them.  Chris felt great warmth fill him as he continued.

“Then we walked to the end and sat down on a bench.”  Reaching a bench, they sat.  “There was a beautiful sunset that filled the sky.  The sun reflected off the water as it neared the horizon.  I told you that even though we’ve only known each other for such a short time, I want to be with you all the time.”

Jane had been shifting her focus between Chris’s eyes and lips.  Passion overcame her upon hearing these words and she only saw his eyes.  His were aflame.  Her spirit screamed to be with him.  She felt the pull to his lips.  Phantom sensations of his lips upon hers began in earnest.  Desire filled her. 

His own craving building, Chris continued, “Then we stood up.”  He stood and led her to stand.  Then he pulled her close.  With fervor in their eyes, Chris added, “Then I leaned down…”  He ended the narrative by acting out the rest of his story.  He leaned down and gently, passionately placed his lips upon hers. 

Electricity conducted between them.  Each spot where their bodies connected during their embrace and kiss stoked fires screaming to be quenched.  Jane thrilled as she parted her lips allowing their tongues to partake and enhance their pleasure.  They kissed until they heard voices moving up the boardwalk.  With the connection of their lips broken, they held their gaze as they sat again upon the bench. 

Chris released his right hand from her left and reached it around her shoulders.  Then using his left hand, he clasped hers again.  He gently squeezed her hand and shoulder.  Jane rested her head on Chris and said, “I wish this would never end.”

The Ember Flickered

Only recently has the ember flickered to life and the smoky residue illuminated cloudy memories within me.  Images of you.  A stirring aroma of a soul once whole with mine.  All I know is what I’ve been taught but all the knowledge compiled since the dawn of time is rubbish.  It cannot explain this glowing coal.  You are the tip of the tongue, beyond my sight, my memory and heart.  How can I know you are truly there?  With so many mysteries I don’t know to consider and so much we don’t understand, how did this certainty arrive?  I can never imagine.  My only realization is this void.  There is a constant gnawing, an eternal decay hollowing out my existence.  It only became distracted when my heart heard yours.  It must be you.  We were once together but now apart and my heart still cries out for you. 

Let me commune with you.  How I long to be with you, arm in arm.  Let us heal our desperate souls.  Oh to soothe your heart and you mine.  May we be one again and for always. 

Weakened Breath

Gasping
Frenzied eyes
Searching
Voided life
In and exhale
Damaged pull
Insufficient push
Debilitated
Drained
Try again
Faded strength
Anemic life
Yet again
Pale existence
Again
 
© September 2017
Duane Windell Phillips


 

 

Shorties: Number 33

Susie answered the door and more memories stormed in.  From the sad to the mundane to the hilarious, they lived it all.  She and her dearly departed husband opened there home to Michael the year he and Paul were in the same class.  After many meals and camping trips, Mike was like a son to Susie.  She threw her arms around Mike and said, “Oh I’ve missed you young man.”

“I missed you too SuperMom.”

Susie pulled back to look at the middle aged man and added, “I’ve missed hearing that too.”

Michael smiled.  “How is he?”

“Not much improvement lately.  He still can’t speak.  He just repeats the same thing over and over again and his left side is still paralyzed but you can tell he knows what’s going on.”

The words stung.  Michael and Paul were inseparable throughout school until different college ambitions parted them.  Even then, they remained in contact.  Still, time, distance, marriage and babies wedge in between even the closest of people.  Eventually, contacts came only on holidays and special days.  Bad news needs no invitation.  Though Mike wanted to travel to visit his friend the moment he received the news of Paul’s stroke, there were pressing issues he needed to resolve first.

“Put your stuff in Dave’s old room.  Paul’s in his old room.”

“Ok SuperMom.” 

Mike heard SuperMom whispering to Paul in the room two doors down.  Then he steeled himself for seeing his friend.  He’d never met anyone who’d had a stroke before and feared the unknown.  He forced a happy face and walked to Paul’s bedroom.  He saw various medical paraphernalia as he neared and entered the room.  Then the two friends locked eyes. 

Mike’s heart sank but he smiled through gritted teeth.  “Hey, man!  How are you?”

Paul sat up in the bed and the half of his face that had muscle control smiled.  He blurted out, “Wheel wheel wheel wheel!”  Mike looked at SuperMom for an interpretation.  “That’s all he can say right now.  We hope his speech returns.”

Michael leaned down to Paul and hugged him.  Then in a scolding voice, added, “You know, you’re not supposed to do things like this and scare us so much.”  Paul responded, “Wheel wheel wheel.”  Something about his body language told Mike Paul said, “It wasn’t my choice.” 

Instinctively, Mike replied, “I know.  That’s okay, buddy.  We’ll let it slide this time.”  Then he turned to Paul’s mother and added, “Won’t we, SuperMom.”

“Of course.”

Then Michael added, “Hey, gimme a minute to use the John.  I rushed here so I could see you.”

“Wheel wheel wheel wheel.”

After Mike finished his business in the bathroom and washed his hands, he fought emotions tearing at his soul.  Seeing his best friend like that was a knife in the heart.  Still, it was his friend trapped behind those bars.  Something about Paul’s eyes registered the fear he was a prisoner in his own body.  Mike would do what he could to set his friend free.

Shorties: Number 32

Fear rising, Timmy barked, “Leave me alone.”

His tormentors merely laughed.  They had all the time they needed to play around with him.  They may even hurt him this time.  It was fun.

Timmy fought back the tears they wanted to see.  That was the goal.  They pushed and menaced him until he cried.  Then they laughed and called him Tiny Timmy.  Laughter continued as they left him alone feeling insignificant.  Jason sneered, “Whatsa matter?  You gonna cry?”  Keith laughed and echoed, “Yeah, ya gonna cry Tiny Timmy?”

A corner was turned and, suddenly, Timmy would not give them the satisfaction today.  It wasn’t a matter of bravery.  It was survival.  He couldn’t remain the frightened lamb stalked by these two wolves.  It would never end.  To them, it was a game.  Today, Timmy quit playing.  Slowly, anger replaced fear.  Jason looked at Keith upon recognizing a difference.  He hoped for confirmation something was not the same.  Keith saw nothing and continued with his sneer and slow step toward the lad.  Jason decided he must be wrong.

Rock still, Timmy glared beyond the tyrants.  He wouldn’t give the satisfaction of looking at them.  Jason and Keith stood on each shoulder confidently looking down at the little mouse.  They didn’t know his teeth were about to show. 

Apodyopsis

Eyes speak

A tongue their own

Eyes meet

And then they roam

 

I see

Your every curve

I seek

Without reserve

© September 2017

Duane Windell Phillips

Apodyopsis = The act of mentally undressing someone

written due to a word prompt given today in the Beautiful Minds Community
Yes, I see the irony

My Light

Each contour

Every space

Surface

Illuminated by you

 

Tantalize and

Fascinate

Fix this grin

Warm my heart

 

As you move

My vision amends

Let me see all

Clearly

Joyfully

 

My light

Lovely glow

My life

 

©September 2017

Duane Windell Phillips