Undulating through the thick atmosphere, a molten sun dropped like a neon orange blob in a cosmic lava lamp. Shore birds picked mussels from the wet sand, leaving no footprints, only regrets. Tendrils of light reached out, trying to steal the salty morsels from their nibs.
Sitting cross-legged in the warm sand, just above the high tide line, she watched the Dali landscape play out in front of her. Surreal and gaudy, she tried to make sense of the last 24 hours.
She could feel the sand creeping into her shorts, and imagined she was sinking down into the funnel of an hour-glass, life falling away one grain at a time beneath her.
Her eyes were gritty from lack of sleep. Rubbing them with heel of her hand, she was surprised by the wetness on her cheek. Squinting against the last burning rays of the day, she hoped for some sort of magic, something spectacular to happen. A flash of enchantment, or at least inspiration, to transport her away.
A trail of broken dreams fanned out behind her like the tail feathers of the egret hungrily wading in the surf. Knowing she left for the right reasons didn’t make the loss easier to accept.
This was supposed to be the beginning of her new life. That’s what everyone tried to tell her. Maybe one day she’d begin to believe it too.
Trifecta, a weekly one-word prompt, challenges writers to use that word in its third definition form, using no less than 33 words or no more than 333. The week’s prompt is: New [adj. \n(y)o͞o\] 3: having been in a relationship or condition but a short time
very beautiful writing!!
There is a lot of lovely imagery going on in this piece. I really love the description of surreal and gaudy for that uncomfortable , world between worlds feeling of starting over.
Thanks for linking up with, as always. We look forward to reading your response to the next challenge.
Third paragraph? Perfection. You’ve really captured the feeling of starting over, beginning anew.
Your imagery is stunning. One of my favorites was “Tendrils of light reached out, trying to steal the salty morsels from their nibs.” I felt hope in the end that she would find happiness in her new life.
Lovely – I loved the tail feathers, the fanning out of her dreams, and, of course, no footprints, only regrets.
I love the description, especially in the third paragraph.
And your photo is just so so stunningly beautiful! :-)
Very vivid scene — I love the image of her watching the sunset and hoping vainly for something magical to happen to change where she is in life. Well done.
Gorgeous picture. The image of a molten sun dropping into lava is beautiful
The devastation of heartbreak can definitely be felt here through your words. “leaving no footprints, only regrets” hit me big time.
discovered yourblog through trifecta! love the analogy of the hourglass! great post tara.
Absolutely beautiful! Wow.
And love the new layout, too. :)
This is great! I loved the imagery – especially sinking down into the funnel of an hourglass.
What lovely visual images you’ve created. As for gorgeous lines, Jester Queen has said it all.
Excellent piece of writing.
I concur with Whimsy Gizmo about the excellence of “leaving no footprints, only regrets,” and I add “imagined she was sinking down into the funnel of an hour-glass, life falling away one grain at a time beneath her”. You’ve described so perfectly the feeling of underpinning sand washing out from under your body that I could feel the texture of it under my own legs.
Tara, this is excellent. Your descriptions are stunning, and this line caught me, in particular:
“leaving no footprints, only regrets.”
Just wonderful.