That Morning At the DMV, Sixteen Years Ago

There was a swoosh and air tumbled over her. Air that was just too cold and had just too much a taste of Lysol to mask the underlying odor. Human. Undeniable, unmistakable. This place reeked of their stench. At least. That's what she told herself. She walked towards the counter at the center of the room.

The woman who sat there looked like she hadn't moved from the spot since the late 1970s. Her hair, her makeup, her clothes. Those half-moon glasses  she wore low on the bridge of her nose. The tired and annoyed way she looked up. This woman whose time was apparently so important that she couldn't even muster a smile for the people walking through her line.

"What you here for, hon?" Her voice was nasally and flat.

The girl standing in front of her counter looked no older than twenty. Red hair pulled back in a ponytail. Leather jacket that was just a bit too big draped over her shoulders. A red and white flannel shirt tied above her exposed bellybutton. Torn and faded jeans that were turned up above her pair of leather boots. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of reflective aviators as she looked down at her watch.

"Renewal of registration." Her voice was lower than one would expect from her frame. "What time do you have?"

"You'll just need to take a number and wait over there." The woman droned as she pulled a number from a ticket dispenser and ignored the other question. "Wait time is about four hours. Hope you brought a book or something."

The girl walked forward and planted both her hands firmly on the counter, people in line looking over and whispering as they saw her. She leaned forward and if people hadn't know better they would have thought her neck, her whole frame, seemed to stretch a bit as she leered at the woman. She bent her head ever so slightly forward, letting the sunglasses slide just an inch or so down her nose. But that was all it took.

Deep in the shadow of the sunglasses her irises burned a bright red, as if they were two live coals cooking at the center of their dark sockets. Her hair suddenly seemed redder, her canines of her teeth seemed longer. For a moment, the leather jacket looked less like a jacket and more like a pair of leathery wings folded across her back. Just for a moment. No one even seemed to see it. Most were busy holding up "Oregon Driver's Manual" or "Bike Rules of the Road" booklets.

The Careful Road

This is a piece I did for a class a while back. The idea was to start and end a short story the same way. So I started and ended it with the same word but in different context. Warning, get's painfully awkward but I think its a pretty realistic depiction of the ups and downs of so many relationships. Enjoy. 

"Careful!!!"

"Geez! You trying to give me a heart attack?!"

"Me? You're the one driving like a maniac."

"I'm not even going five miles over the speed limit. Calm down, Maralyn."

"I'll calm down when you slow down."

"Everyone's going this speed!"

"I don't care what everyone else is doing. Jackson, you better slow down or so help me! And its raining! Everyone knows you're suppose to slow down in the rain."

"But then we'll be late."

"My mother will understand."

"Yeah, right, I'm sure she will."

"...."

"...."

".... You're still not slowly down. Why are you so impatient?"

"The rain's coming down harder."

"So slow down! God! Why do you always have to be like this! I mean first the coat, now this!"

"Hey! Don't start with your coat again! I'm sick and tired of that stupid, red thing!"

"It would only have taken me a second to find it...."

"But we were running late! Why couldn't you take the other one? Why do you always have to have everything your way! Sometimes I get so, so... argh!"

"So...? So, what? What were you going to say?"

"Nothing."

"Don't you dare do this."

"Do what?"

The Mission Before Everything Changed

"Move! Move move move!" The shouts echoed down the corridor as the sudden flash was followed by smoke and a loud bang.

"Go! Enide! Take out the weapons." This is me. Taking out the weapons.

By weapons she means the guards who are supposed to prevent any thieves from getting into the vault. Thieves like us. Not that we're really thieves. But they won't see it that way so there's no time to talk it over. I move fast, my arm cracks like a whip, and the sound that his jaw makes provides the perfect accompaniment. It only takes a second before the other one is on the floor too. I'm not even breathing hard yet. 

This is me. 

Jacob's Mistake

He stood in a room
Empty and threadbare
Where the light was grey
And there were no walls
He looked to his left
And saw her standing
Facing his way
With her veil now drawn
He looked to his right
And there stood another
Facing the sunrise
Burning nothing pink
He looked from the one
Back to the other
Faceless were both
Save for one set of eyes

When

"When did you first know" She whispered in the warm darkness.

He swallowed. What a question. He looked away from her, lying beside him on the old blanket, and instead searched the obsidian night above for the answer. A billion billion sparking eyes twinkled back at his, as the thoughts started to run through his mind and threatened to spill from his lips.

"When did I know what?" He knew she could see his smile in the full moon's glow, because he saw hers as she whispered back, "You know what."

Should he tell her about the first time he saw her, passing on the train, his eyes locked on hers, and though she may have forgotten he would never forget. He was standing in the rain, waiting to cross the tracks. She was on the train going to school. It was only a moment but it was forever. 

Certain Kind of Sadness

There is a certain sadness
That aches my ribs
Running lightning fingers
Across their creaking cracks
That certain kind of sadness
That turns my stomach
My core rots inward
And I feel the slow implosion
It draws near, that sadness
Burns my cheeks
A fire of shame and anger
Disgrace flames my lips
Now comes that sadness
And pains my eyes
With tears that won't flow
I lose my voice
And my desire subsides
Like there is a deep darkness
A hole in my chest
Sounds so cliches right now
But this emptiness
It is the only description
For that certain kind of sadness
That smothers me tonight

Even the Red One

"Shall we dance"
The music asks
But all I can rasp in my mind is
Need a moment to think
Some space to breathe
You're overtaking me too fast
And when I look at your smile
I miss childhood again
When things were so cut
I like you and you are my friend
So we'll play together
And I'll share the crayons
Just not the red one
Thats mine
I look at your smile
And I miss those teenage years again
Uncertainty in every step
The bounce of possibility
So much joy and fear at each breath
The horror of the first disappointment
Nothing will ever taste as bitter as those tears
But we are in a different year, you and I
And while things turn slower
And lines fade to grey
How can we find the dancefloor
When all the lights have gone out?
But now there are certainties we can draw from
And I know the floor is there
Even if I cannot see it
And I know that you are near
Even if it is dark right now
So I shall reach out with childhood clarity
And I will hold out my hand and say
"I like you and you are my friend
Lets dance together
And I will share my crayons
Maybe even the red one.
If you like. Shall we dance."

Bittersweet Victory (Incomplete)

Gliding on her gilded wings

Swift Nike comes to me

Sweet Goddess over Victoy

Garland-weaver to kings

Comes to me within my dreams

Touching tenderly upon the ground

She turned with eyes of grief

Her voice as sad and sans relief

My heart would break at the sound

Morbid each word echoed and rebound.

"The battle pieces have been thrown

But ere the first's pike's clash

Or silver swift flying arrow flash

Lo, the flag too soon been shown

And white already been flown,

And now sent, I have come unto thee

Not clothed in garments of gold

But in iron that burns so cold

For though I stand here as you see

I am but a hollow Victory."

"Milady, please, I do implore,"

I said now upon bended knee

"If thou'rt but a hollow Victory

For reason stand thou here before

the one who, thou so adores.

Why come upon thy gilded flight

If there has no battle been

And the sun no blood has seen

How can laurels bend with thy might

Crown a victor without battle's sight?"

"Thy adversary has now withdrawn"

The gildless goddess spoke in tone

That froze fire and melted bone

"The worthy one, who did not warn

Attacking on that fateful morn

She who crossed thy river's bands

She who breached the great walls

Toppled your gates beneath her soles

She who came upon thy lands

So innocently in song and dance

O son of man that you could not know

That the Siren's call was near

In danger all you held dear

Your kingdom come to overthrow

At the way her eyes would glow

But you saw through that disguise

And drew your sword to make war

To play the games that boys so adore

But you did not see the fear in her eyes

The truth behind the truth behind the lies

Now she has withdrawn beyond your reach

And you still speak of making battle

While your spear and sword rattle

Because your own heart has heard her's beseech

That there is something for her to teach."

"But how, O Goddess, can I find her now

For she has made it clear

The Last Door

You told me to run
So I ran as fast as I can
And my legs were like a drum
And my heart was like a furnace
I gasped for air like underwater
And still your broke my bones
Because you were just too heavy
My ribs could not keep my heart inside
And my mouth screamed with pleasure
The purest pleasure as your teeth sank
And gripped into the deepest part
Your mane hung about your shoulders
And I was lost in your golden boughs
I could climb your golden shoulders
I could search for your golden eyes
But then I found your laughter
And the I couldn't stop the tears
Call me to your country
Let me in by the Stable Door
Plato was right and I am a shadow
Your light consumes me and I am gone
Stars will rain in showers
The sun will soon go out
I am just a shadow
And you are not tame