Writer. Feminist. Historian. Person.
I thrust my knife forward, but my foe is invisible in the darkness. That’s alright. I can wait.
Then the dark is pierced by light, revealing a nurse. The ugly one with the mustache and spider veins. Smelling like tabasco and beer.
“You’re tilting at windmills again aren’t you dear? Let’s get you into bed.”
I comply. I can wait. Her time will come.
Our challenge was to tell a story in 64 words using the following words:
NURSE
TABASCO
INVISIBLE
SPIDER
WINDMILL
MOUSTACHE
once upon a time I slept
each night in peace and quiet
but then the screams ran riot
the peace no longer kept
and now the voice inside my head
sings a raucous melody
its song is endless thankfully
as silence fills my heart with dread
I don’t think I actually followed the w3 prompt correctly ( as this enclosed rhyming) but it inspired me so I’m giving them props!
the day dawns care free
unthinking and audacious
heedless of our fear
Image credit: Jr Korpa @ Unsplash
Thanks to Sadje and What do you see for the inspiration.
You provoke! he cries.
An Aberration. he cries.
You make me! he cries
He cries. I apologize.
False tears. We begin again.
Important reminder: COVID-19 has worsened the ongoing horror of domestic violence. If you or a loved one (in the U.S) needs more information or help, they can contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline
As a regular supporter of my local Domestic Violence Support Network (CASA) I have been keeping up with the added domestic violence dangers COVID brings to at-risk families, and today the image provided by Sadje’s WDYS Challenge and the word prompts from the WOTD Challenge (provoke) and Fandango’s FOWC (aberration) came together to inspire this work.
Be kind to each other.
REACH OUT (SAFELY) IF YOU NEED SUPPORT!
Nothing could have prepared Sue for the surge. She had always known she was different but this …. This was more than different. This was some freak level stuff.
She could feel the agitated hum of the crowd as they realized something wasn’t right.
And then a shift. Subtle at first. Agitation turning into fear. Swelling.
Could they smell it? Or did panic spread like a wave?
No one looked her way. No one knew it was her.
She felt the power surging again. But this time instead of fearing it, she embraced it.
Nothing could stop her now.
Photo prompt courtesy of J Hardy Carroll
Well … my positive writing outlook lasted two days! Maybe later I’ll try to reclaim it. Meanwhile, thanks to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioners Challenge and Fandango’s WOTD Challenge (nothing) for giving me inspiration to channel my-always-present dark side.
Tina Stewart Brakebill 