my entries for the Construct Cup |
I’m calm, so calm. too calm, entering the room not slamming the door behind me, deliberate movements. only with the door closed and locked, with the soundproofing guaranteed in place, do I finally scream all the things I didn’t say, I wanted to say. I shouldn’t say because I really do love her and I really want what’s best for her but why does she have to stamp on each and every nerve—being around her is like a hammer to the funny bone. once, I dropped a ceramic cookie off an apartment building. it shattered beautifully. I cleaned up after. I like the sound of crashing. plates against the wall, cups. the good china that she put on her wish list because everyone wants china, if only to throw it. watch it shatter watch it again in slow motion, the place setting leaving my hands to separate in the air into component pieces—cup, three plates, two bowls— and then the explosion against the wall. beautiful sound. and I’m screaming until my voice is broken and I’ve said everything I didn’t say because I didn’t want to hurt her. didn’t want to hurt him. didn’t want to hurt them, and I rub my hands until they stop shaking. I turn and leave the room, hearing the mess melt back whole behind me, and when I see her again, I have a smile a kind word, and the calm memory of her precious things exploding musically beneath my shoes. line count: 55 Prompt ▼ |