There is a storm on the horizon. Under his feet, he feels the thunder after lightning rips the darkness asunder. The electric tingling is not the storm chaser desire. He knows she is out there with only a slicker and a camera between her and Mother Nature’s fury. Inside the house, it is dark. Candles flicker but leave an eerie cast to the furniture and walls. The dog has little interest in the weather and blissfully snores in his bed. The cat poses for an All Hallow’s Eve poster when the lightning strikes. He knows he should be worried for her. The thought allows him to forgive his jumping at the sound of the screen door blown closed, even if he cannot bring himself to laugh.
The walls loom closer when the candles wane. He grabs a bottle from the cooler and heads out to the porch. He holds perfectly still as the wind rocks her chair beside him. As suddenly as a lightning strike, he stands and paces along the banister. Worry is the tempest caught in his chest. “Where can she be?” he asks the rain drops falling from the eave.
The shiver convinces him to go back inside, even if he does not know if the chill or fear caused it. When he slumps on the divan, his body seeps in like mercury. His bones are heavy, and the pelting is soothing. It drums him to sleep while the cat paces along the back of the couch, rubbing his head. Like the wheel of a pictograph, images fly before his eyes.
A prom dress from a long ago century, an orchid wrist corsage, two-inch heels, a sprained ankle, carrying her up the stairs when he brought her home an half hour late.
Overalls, covered in soil, muddy gloves, a spade, the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree of all rose bushes, her proud smile.
Angelic glow, carnations and mums, the gossamer veil, her trembling voice and shaking hand, the kiss which could have lasted for hours.
A three-layer coconut cake with 30 candles on it, leaning toward the Joneses, nothing tasted better.
5 a.m. alarm, the draft in the bedroom, her wrapped around him like a toga, eyes dancing in a fantasy behind her lids.
Pearly white truck, two weeks old, fender smashed, her teary-eyed pout.
Huffing and puffing, the strained expression as the doctor said, “Push!” The swell of her breast and the sudden urge for her, now.
Velvety soft picnic blanket, fresh potato salad and chocolate-covered strawberries, not nearly as sweet as her kiss.
Rose fills the morning sky, and a sunbeam warms his cheek. The dog licks his hand where it dangled off the sofa. Scratching the matted back of his head, he opens the door for the pooch just as the car pulls in the driveway. He sinks to his knees. He knows why an officer would come to call.
~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to this week’s edition of Edward Hotspur’s Romantic Monday. Stop by and see who else has something percolating in the romantic coffee pot. You are sure to find a few you already know and meet some terrific new ones.
Once some more of these collect, I will build a page for it. I am officially taking nominations for what to name the page. As always, from comments to poll to page. We all know the drill by now.
Until next time…
~~~~~~~~~~
What is it which reminds you of someone? Are the best memories of a relationship the perfect ones are the ones which are perfect examples of Mate? Are you a storm chaser?
PS If you voted in the poll before today, JetPack ate your answers. Please vote again. You may vote as many times as necessary to get your answers submitted. Comments for the poll are also open.
Gail Thornton
/ November 12, 2012Dear Red,
This piece is one of the most beautifully written prose I have ever read. The images, the drama, the depth and romance of it are breath-taking. Thank you so much for opening this door to an avenue of what is sure to be inspirational for writers and readers alike.
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – Anaphoric Ride
Red
/ November 12, 2012Thank you, Gail. This is a test for me. I do not care for the subject matter. Perhaps, I can try one which is not heartbreak, but it will have to wait until the next one. It happens to be slightly violent.
Noeleen
/ November 13, 2012You don’t care for the subject matter? You’re pretty damn good at it!
Noeleen recently posted..An education in Australian slang : Fighting shit with shit
Red
/ November 13, 2012I am so truly unromantic it hurts 😉
raymond alexander kukkee
/ November 13, 2012Not according to the muse I just read a moment ago….haha, and that’s straight from the corner office, gummy bears included….”:)
raymond alexander kukkee recently posted..Seceding from the United States of America to join Chinada?
Red
/ November 13, 2012LOL! It is the upper limit of my creativity. None of that comes naturally. 😉
Binky
/ November 12, 2012Some very evocative images/memories.
Binky recently posted..Dollar Store Pet
Red
/ November 12, 2012Flashback is the one place where my flash is always good.
Binky
/ November 13, 2012Only until someone figures out how to get inside your head to recode it.
Binky recently posted..Dollar Store Pet
Red
/ November 13, 2012Little ESP goes a long way. I am dreaming in CSS and php.
Lorre
/ November 17, 2012I heard you give good flash.
Lorre recently posted..Stop, Drop and Roll
Red
/ November 17, 2012Yes, but it is getting colder.
Laurie
/ November 12, 2012Romance? Oh pooh, is knocking the crap out of someone romantic? I mean I’m gorgeous when I lose my temper, at least that’s what I’ve been told. Usually when I’m losing my temper so I go off more…what was my question??
Laurie recently posted..Changes in Hope of Simplicity
Red
/ November 12, 2012The whole argument of “You’re beautiful when you are angry,” is a diversion. Albeit a successful one for the weak-willed, it is like tears are for me…blood in a shark tank. A large part of romance is how it goes wrong, but love endures at some level. In many cases it is something more akin to respect or a business relationship. Underneath, there is still something there.
prenin
/ November 12, 2012Good one Red! 🙂
Kept me reading right to the end! 🙂
God Bless!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Monday – a trip to the dentist.
Red
/ November 12, 2012Thank you, Pren. Very solid feedback. This is not familiar territory for me. {HUGZ}
Valentine Logar
/ November 12, 2012This was stark, sad and provocative. Memories I think are part of what hold us to our current positions, our once and future loves.
Red
/ November 12, 2012I think you are correct about memories. I believe they help us focus our dreams. I like “stark”. I definitely was not going for flowery.
Derek Mansker
/ November 12, 2012You know something (nothing to do with the post) – this actually showed up in my feed on WordPress tonight. That is the first time in a long time I have seen that. Just thought you might enjoy knowing that.
Derek Mansker recently posted..Be Free – Live Free
Red
/ November 12, 2012Considering all the things it broke, I am less than thrilled. Could you tell me this? How much of the post shows and does it include all of the pictures in the feed?
Derek Mansker
/ November 13, 2012It shows no pictures. There are maybe 4 lines shown. — I am talking about the WP reader, just to clarify.
Derek Mansker recently posted..Thank You for Your Thankfulness
Red
/ November 13, 2012Yes, I knew. There have been a number of WP Reader users who have told me, but none have gotten back to me about what they see. Since I cannot see it (it is mine), I wondered what it was showing. Thank you, Derek.
raymond alexander kukkee
/ November 13, 2012Red, this is really beautiful if a bit sad in some ways. I really like this! Voices, particularly in music, remind me of people. Smells evoke memories of people from decades previous. Some are even romantic…”:) ~R
raymond alexander kukkee recently posted..Seceding from the United States of America to join Chinada?
Red
/ November 13, 2012For me, smells are a big thing. Barb did a great post on the nose and how it reminds us of things. You would love her blog.
Lorre
/ November 17, 2012It’s probably better since you aren’t romantic.
Lorre recently posted..Stop, Drop and Roll
Red
/ November 17, 2012I entertained that theory as “better in the mind than practice”. I never was much of a method actress anyway.
Lorre
/ November 18, 2012Romantics can set the bar too high, which just leads to disappointment, fighting and then bye bye romance.
I dated a guy (wanted to be an actor), who thought every moment should be as spectacular as the scenes in the movies. One time, at band camp, (haha) he was getting ready to kiss me. He looked at me, said he wanted it done right and then started to reposition me by grabbing my shoulders. That was my bye bye moment.
Lorre recently posted..Stop, Drop and Roll
Red
/ November 18, 2012O.o He was a drama queen. Ugh. I much prefer the nose-hitting oops in the dark kiss to the staged tango dip in the front yard for a reunion. I feel certain he grew up to be a successful reality show actor, no?
Lorre
/ November 18, 2012I lost track of him, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he was locked up in a facility somewhere acting crazy.
Lorre recently posted..Apple does or doesn’t fall far from the tree?
Red
/ November 18, 2012A convincing performance I am certain.