Claws of servitude

A tear of unkempt agony surfaces her eyeball. Brimming up, it spills the last pe(r)ice of sentiments that she withheld  all this while. She caresses her abandoned wounds like a mother does to her prodigal child. Woebegone but relieved. Seething but pleased. Overwhelmed but irrepressible.
She closes her eyes tight and traverses her mind over the itineraries of life that naively reside somewhere on the back of her head.
She promises a getaway to her devastated self. Arousing an uncompassionate demeanour of a vendetta , her fights are like a fugitive; waiting to be rescued but escaping the claws of servitude in a battle so personal.

Downing sorrows

I downed another glass of the white glistening liquid. The world around me seemed to sway with my rhythm. Like a dream I’d imagined long past this day. My fingers felt the wedding band that embraced my ring finger. It felt cold like my life. She had betrayed me for a man she’d met at a club. I felt smothered with my own emotions. The inebriation had reached my head. I counted my feelings one by one.
The bartender had now found another tipsy customer to deal with. I closed my eyes and downed another glass of the drink.

Flash fiction

Pallid sketches of twilight dance on the frontiers of his face. The creases on his wrinkly shirt murmur despicably as they stick to his withered body. He crawls closer to my feet. I’m no drunkard’s mercy .I scoff.
I look up towards the sky. The moon was at its fullest tonight.
I see an overview of the houses that sat with their torsos clinging to each other. They mock at my loneliness.
Somewhere in the neighbouring streets, dogs howl wolfishly.
I look down at the man gathered at my feet and imagine his wife sitting by the window in anticipation of her husband as she puts her children to sleep.
The stars of the sky camouflage as sunlight creeps with the first breath of dawn. I dim out. I’m a street lamp and my work is over for the night. I close my eyes as the city comes to life.

Woman with the stars.

The cold serenity pinched her taut skin and brought a crimson glow on her face.Her eyes twinkled with outlandish ecstasy on this starry night. Humming an obscure tune, she poised rather daintily on the porch. The paroxysm of the time was known but by her. The distinct howl of a savage dog ridiculed the crispness in the air. The night smelled of wet grass and the Jasmine scent that she wore.

She clutched a small ivory box close to her chest with her eyelids shut like a sated predator. The raindrops dripped in a rhythmic pattern on the cobblestoned pavement .

She essayed to open the box , her lips tilted into an uncanny smile. The ivory box snapped open and there lay several glittery diamond-like tangible lights. Like glowworms. Except that they weren’t.

With a swift motion of her hands towards the sky and an inhalation so sharp and frenzied, she locked the box vehemently.

The moonlight became lonelier as she faded gently with the stars.

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The most beautiful smile

“Sugar, stop right there! You’re not moving , are you? ” I shouted out loud to my five year old daughter as I ran around the house with a bowl of cereals in my hand. She ducked and hid beneath the cot and replied in between giggles,” I’m not coming daddy! ”
Balancing the bowl singlehandedly like a gymnast , I squatted on the floor beside the cot and held out my hand inviting her to hold it.
She giggled again and stuck her tongue out.
” okay, I swear. No cereal today. Come out honey” I chimed one on one with her giggles.
” Promise? I want ice cream”. Giggles again.
” Sure thing. Now come on out” I said , vehemently.
“Okay daddy ” she said overtly emphasizing her reply.
She sat at the coffee table with her hands tightly bound across her chest.
Her cute little face radiating innocence that left me mesmerized. Her teeth peeking through her tiny lips. So beautiful she was.
I placed the bowl of cereals on the table and went in to get some ice cream for my daughter.
****
35 years later.

She sat beside my bed, gazing at the flowers placed on the table nearby.
“Why daddy, why do you have to go? ” she said , still staring blankly in dismay.
” That’s the way of life , honey”
I took my pale wrinkled hand and placed on hers.
I saw a dainty tear fall from her eyes.
” you’ve got a whole like ahead of you. Don’t be worried about me wherever I go, I’ll be okay, Lily….” I said with a faltering tone.
I had been suffering enough in silence. I blinked away tears.
I heard footsteps outside and the door opened revealing Matt, her husband and her little six year old child.
I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. The little child dodged closer to me and gave me the sweetest familiar innocent smile.
She sat next to Lily and held my gaze.
I believe that was the most beautiful smile that I ever saw.

(Fiction)