Eliza moved into the new apartment complex opposite my own drab building. She started at my school but we never spoke; the different shades of our skin made certain of that. I studied her whenever I was able. It was her eyes that always held me transfixed; they were an amazing splash of green, swirling and ever-changing as tide pools at dawn. In their depths lay a sadness that I could never quite reach, no matter how I tried.
On the day I saw her crying by her open bedroom window, I felt the weight of the slate sky overhead press down. I had never before seen someone so forlorn. Although I lived a tattered, hand-me-down life, I dressed in smiles and was clothed in laughter. Eliza was always impeccably accoutered but I’d never heard a laugh cross her lips.
As I sat watching, she glanced up and our eyes met. Instead of looking away like she did at school, she held my gaze while unheeded tears fell. I was in a rowboat, being dragged into a maelstrom. Everything in me urged me to dip my oars and pull back before I was caught in the whirlpool. Yet, I resisted and stayed with her until the storm blew itself out. Finally, when there was nowhere left for it to run, I saw the cause of Eliza’s sorrow laid bare in the depths of her eyes.
I signaled for her to stay by the window and quickly gathered supplies. I worked diligently on a red magazine page, then folded a newspaper into a plane and loaded its precious cargo. Once I was back by the window, a flick of my wrist launched it out over the chasm between our worlds.
Eliza’s eyes traced its arc as my plane gracefully rose, then seemed to hang on a breath at the apex. Inside that pause, I lived and grew old in a world devoid of colours; I married for love, raised children who knew how to draw pictures in clouds and laugh until their bellies ached for release. As the plane descended, its cargo released, to fall as heart-shaped rain.
Laughter drifted like wind chimes at dusk and a sliver of sunshine broke through dark clouds.
Ryan Stone
A beautiful love story. “Inside that pause, I lived and grew old in a world devoid of colours.” I love the depiction of color in this line. I don’t know your wife’s name, but I hope it’s Eliza.
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Thank you so much, Belinda.
Nothing more than a story this time around π
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Beautiful story all the same. π
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So nice of you to say so π
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π π
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What a captivating story, what an enthralling storyteller you are!
“Although I lived a tattered, hand-me-down life, I dressed in smiles and was clothed in laughter”
That is such a heartwarming phrase, it made me smile.
“Laughter drifted like wind chimes at dusk and a sliver of sunshine broke through dark clouds”
So replete with the joy that hope brings.
Figment of imagination or shreds of truth…does not matter. It’s a beautiful story, Ryan.
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Thank you for investing so much time in reading and offering such a detailed critique, Manan. It is so greatly appreciated π
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Wow! I would love some heart-shaped rain. Your story is very touching.
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Haha, so would I. Thank you for being so thoughtful π
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Lovely!
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Thank you so much π
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π
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Awwh this was such a beautiful story!
Really made me smile.There is always great flow in your words.
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Lovely feedback, thank you – you’ve passed your smile along π
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Welcome π
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Ryan….What a breath-taking story. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I said I read it with a gasped breath and when I read the last word, I sighed with a smile. This blog is one of my most favourite corners on the web and every time I head over her, I expect to read something wonderful and I have never yet been disappointed π
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Wow! What a beautiful comment to read before bed. You are incredibly thoughtful and I truly can’t describe how much your kindness means to me. Thank you π
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I must thank you Ryan for always writing something so amazing that I never feel like skipping that coffee break during which I sit with your articles. Do drop by my site and read through to see if you like anything π Cheers…Looking forward to your next…
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Thank you and I have, and will again π
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Beautiful story, great characterization, and such flowery words to make a woman’s heart happy this morning. β€
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Haha, happy to help! Thank you for your lovely words, Elizabeth π
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This is a really beautiful, tender love story. I rode the paper plane with you. Thank you.
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Thank you, Harold. Really appreciate your feedback, mate π
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what a beautiful story about first loves π I too hung on that breath at the apex…sigh…
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Thanks so much, my friend π
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You’re welcome π
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love love love
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Thanks, Rachel π
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Oh My, this left me hushed, Ryan. A heartfelt story of love most of us envy, and drawn with gorgeous use of language–well done!!
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Thank you, Azul π
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Most welcome.
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Breathtaking.
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Thanks so much π
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Such a lovely post π
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Thank you so much π
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Awww, had missed reading your flash-fiction. A perfect rescuing knight, sitting on the sidelines and doing what it is best – warming a heart through a smile.
Wonderfully woven and perfect imagery!! π
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You’re lovely! It’s nice having time to write again. Thank you π
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Well deserved vacations π
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Really love your description, Ryan. I imagine you are quite the story teller!
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Thanks, mate. I do love having the time to write stories π
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You are welcome. I am happy you get time to write π
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π
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