The key…
I dream about that fucking key.
It hangs on its nail. When she’s here and the light’s on full, the tarnished brass a dull yellow: winking golden-green when it’s just me and the lighting’s reduced. The camera light blinks reflections from it:
On… Off… On… Off…
Occasionally I find myself staring at it, counting the blinks… 27… 28… 29…
It’s not as if there’s anything better to do. When a blinking light is the highlight of the entertainment…
933… 934… 935…
Christ!
Am I so reduced that I can reach 1,000 without even realising I was getting there?
Think of something else…
What?
Something good…
A good memory…
Mitch…
When I first knew you…
…
She dances for me… Kicking off her heels, in her bare feet, she dances.
She wears a dress in teal-green silk, which rustles and whispers as she moves. And her long hair is a cloud of red around her as she sways and shimmies to the music, her green eyes shining.
She reaches for me, her long pale arms outstretched, and laughing for sheer joy. Taking her in my arms, one hand at her shoulder, the other nested at the base of her spine, we dance smoothly and slowly to the quiet, easy music.
So close to me, she smells of that perfume she wears. It rises from within the silk like a drug, and like a drugged man, I stoop to lift her and to carry her to the bed...
It all went wrong… so quickly… so soon after that…
All my fault…
You ran from me for years…
And then…
Miracle…
gave yourself
hands on my chest
I’ve never
…
…
Oh, God…
I had it…
it… I’d gotten there. After a fucking
…
The people I hurt.
The lives I ruined…
Mitch…
Jenny…
would
*****
Richard
if I join
morning air, matching the one in my own. “Not
down the sweep of
of looking at it. Especially this time of the day, when the day warms and the
through curling fronds of
call it ‘The Breath of the Dragon’. It’s easy to see
“It is indeed.”
his chin back over his shoulder. “How is it
with Mitch; trying to stay
“… and not succeeding?”
smile onto her face when she knows anyone is looking at her, but
see it too.” He shakes his head. “She’s so unhappy. Who would have
think even
mug, swallows and lets out
wondering if she’s been widowed before
“That’s it exactly.”
“Any suggestions?”
I mean, two new babies in the house and
“You’ve got me there.”
the rumble of a car engine, then the squeak of brakes. Michael cocks his head, listening. “Visitors?
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!