Daily Prompt – Carry
I carry you around in my heart like people carry old photographs in their wallets. The edges are worn with wear and the image smudged with fingerprints and love.
daily prompts
Heart and Soul
Daily Prompt – Confused
I sit staring into space, my mind still trying to make sense of everything. Even after all these weeks I’m left shaken and confused, as if my world has been turned upside down and shaken like a snow globe, then righted and left with the flakes yet to settle. I had invested so much of myself in you to be left with a hole in my heart and a deep ache in my soul.
This One’s For The Girls
Daily Prompt – Luxury
I’m a material girl. I admit it with no shame whatsoever. I appreciate luxury. I appreciate the finer things life has to offer. This is not to say I always spend a lot of money on things. But when I do buy things, I spend a lot of money. I find that you usually do get what you pay for. And that sometimes you’re worth the splurge. And every so often you should buy something so deliciously out of reach that you smile for a week just thinking about it. Hell, I have a forbidden treasure that I smile about three years after I bought it. Everyone deserves to have breakfast at Tiffany’s now and again.
Look Into My Eyes
Daily Prompt – Paint
I pull up to the building and stare with vacant eyes. Sitting for the few precious remaining moments in my air-conditioned car, I listen to the sad song chosen especially for the drive. Lately everything I do is chosen to reflect my sad state of mind. I’ve begun to retreat inside myself, to my imaginary world where I am in control. Where things go smoothly and the world seems right and just and everything has a shiny Disney tint.
But there are times, like right now, sitting in my car waiting to go to work, when I have to return to reality. When the real world intrudes on the perfect world I’ve constructed in my head. Sighing, I check my makeup in the mirror and paint a smile on my face. I note the sadness in my eyes. I can’t change that, only hope that nobody will see past the fake smile and notice that it doesn’t quite extend to my eyes. The eyes always tell the story. If you want to know about anyone, look into their eyes. You will see everything you need to see.
My fatal flaw
Daily Prompt – Stubborn
I’m stubborn. It’s both a flaw and a strength. When I feel strongly about something I’ll dig my heels in and my faith will not waver. If I’m on your side, you will appreciate my obstinance. Together we will slay dragons and conquer the world.
But when there is discord I refuse to yield. Détente is merely a sophisticated word to me. There is no compromise and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the sword. It’s my fatal flaw really. The fact that I’m stubborn is both a blessing and a curse. It only depends on which side you fall.
A Gift to You, Whoever You Are
Daily Prompt – Praise
I write words. My voice is my own. An authentic representation of the ideas that roam around in my head. They come out through my pen onto paper, sometimes haphazardly, until I organize and reform them into cohesive thoughts.
I send these missives out as a gift. A piece of myself I’m willing to share with strangers. Still, they are a part of me. I am as proud of them as I am proud of myself. I welcome your perusal. I appreciate your kind response. But I don’t need your praise. My own gratification is approval enough.
Craving
Daily Prompt – Craving
My eyes flutter open and I look at the clock. 3 am. I have a craving that only you can fill. A need deep inside me; physical, carnal, emotional, spiritual, all at once. I reach for your side of the bed and feel the cool sheets under my fingers. Blinking I try to remember. Yes, you left three days ago. The note on the bedside table said you would be back sometime in the fall. You had to find yourself.
Turning on my side I reach for your pillow and pull it against my body, as if it could replace you. It smells of your cologne and sweat and our love. I close my eyes and let my memories of our last time flood over me as I touch myself, allowing a physical release that would have to suffice. My craving will not be completely sated until the leaves make their magical transformation into their splendid autumn color palette. Until you return to me.
My torment and salvation
Daily Prompt – Muse
My muse likes to taunt me. Like a mermaid perched on a rock in the middle of the rough seas she calls to me. And I, always naive, grasp at her. I can feel her graze against my fingertips, just out of reach. She calls me to her rocky shores, dangerous territory to a novice writer like me. I have not yet learned to navigate the highs and lows that writers experience from a coquettish muse. She mocks me and I respond with resentment and indignation. But muse has far more experience than I. She giggles and retreats to her perch, waiting for my next foray into the written word.
Profound
Daily Prompt – Profound
Profound. Such an easy word to write about, I thought. I sat and thought and nothing came to mind. This is silly. It shouldn’t be this hard. I’ll look up the definition. Adj: having deep insight or understanding; deep meaning; going beneath what is superficial. Okay, now we’re talking. Here we go. . . . Still nothing. Perhaps it’s the word itself that intimidates me. How can I write about something being profound when the word evokes such high standards and lofty ideals. My life is not profound. I’m just an average sort of person living an average sort of life. I’m prone to sarcasm. At times I am humorous. But profound is not a word I use in my everyday vernacular. it really does intimidate me. Perhaps because I like being an average sort of person living an average sort of life. Even if I really could be more. It feels safe. And for now I think I’ll stay on the safe side.
Narcisissm
Daily Prompt – Dramatic
“Don’t be so goddamned dramatic.” He spat the words out as if they were poison.
His words were poison to me. I had caught him again. This time before he had a chance to do anything, but he was still caught. It was an email with directions to a hotel room where she should meet him. While I was away on a business trip. Again. At least he was predictable.
When I confronted him with the evidence of course he deflected the conversation to me and my so-called insecurities. “Don’t be so goddamned dramatic.” He said that the first time I accused him and so I, in my shame, retracted my accusation. Then later learned it was true. He back-pedaled and told me it was my fault for smothering him, and I believed him. Each time, each story, each shameful reproach I believed.
This time I caught him before he cheated. Still, he was ready with the deflection. He was prepared to shame me into submission. “Don’t be so goddamned dramatic. It was nothing. Just a meeting. You’re so fucking paranoid.”
I took a deep breath and looked at his face. Suddenly he didn’t seem so handsome, he lacked the charm of our first meeting. The shiny new version had been replaced by this dull, tedious, tiresome person I no longer recognized.
I stood to face him. “No drama.” I kissed him on the cheek and walked out the door, smiling.
On the Other Side
Daily Prompt – Admire
She stared across the street and thought, “I admire you. You leave the house in the mornings looking so polished in your business suit and designer shoes. Your hair and makeup are always in place and your nail polish is never chipped or dull. Your house must be immaculate. No crayon marks on the walls or juice stains on the carpet. You probably have time to yourself each night, to read or take a bath with no interruption.” She sighed and turned back to the clamor of her children behind her and began to pick up the toys strewn across the messy living room floor.
She stared across the street and thought, “I admire you. You kiss your husband good-bye every morning while holding your newborn baby. You stay home and raise your three beautiful children. Your days are full with the meaning of caring for your family. Your house must be full with the sounds of laughter and love. You probably never feel alone, there’s always someone to hug or kiss you when you need it.” She sighed and turned back to the silence of the empty room and poured herself a glass of wine.
I Am
Daily Prompt – Unstoppable
It’s a feeling you have when you’re young. Before the world has shown you its cruelty and worn your spirit. Like a seed planted just after the last winter frost, that bursts forth with the spring rains. You are invincible. You are driven. You are unstoppable. One day you will be a force to be reckoned with. One day you will be exactly who you plan to be.
Then one day comes and you look in the mirror and you don’t see the invincible, driven, unstoppable woman you planned to be. You weren’t a force to be reckoned with. You smile. Even better. You became the woman you see in the mirror.
In Situ
Daily Prompt – Crisis
No warning flag was raised; no alarm was sounded.
There was a crisis of faith in situ.
It began very early, when I first concluded that right is wrong.
And virtue is not virtuous.
That hell hath no fury,
And Heaven hath no peace.
That if the good die young
And young is just a state of mind
Then the good just die.
Father Michael was no help.
Give me your confession and I’ll pray for your soul.
Small concession.
How could I look at him again with no shame?
It was a crisis of faith in situ.
That grew.
Feast – A Mother’s Lament
Daily Prompt – Feast
The linens had been pressed and neatly draped across the cherry table. The china was removed from the cabinet and carefully washed and dried then meticulously arranged. The silver retrieved from its chest and polished to gleam brightly, placed just so in a precise order. Crystal goblets of various sizes came from the highest shelves of the cupboard and found their places at each place setting. Five in all, four for her son’s family and one for her. Last years candles were replaced with fresh new white candles bought yesterday, their white wicks standing stiffly upright.
The timing had to be perfect. Her list in hand, she began to check off each item one by one. As the time neared, her heart began to quicken and a smile formed on her face. This year she was nearly impeccable. She moved quickly to pull food out of the steamy oven, place it neatly onto serving trays, positioned appealingly. The feast was arranged exquisitely on the table. She lit the candles and waited. They were sure to arrive any minute. The invitation had been set for 7:00. And it was precisely 7:00.
She poured herself a half glass of white wine. She knew they would come. Perhaps they were stuck in traffic. She looked at the clock and it was 7:15. Perhaps one of the children’s soccer games ran late. They could have called but it must have slipped their minds.She looked at the clock and it was 7:30. She poured herself another half glass of white wine. Perhaps. Perhaps. She sighed and finished her wine then stood and blew the candles out. Happy birthday to me.
Susan Jarreau - Of Dreams and Disasters 