Like a glass of water tipped into the ocean vanishes, our youthful shoulders touch only for a moment.
A masquerade of closeness.
The golden hour light illuminates my smile, while the hurt of your indifference hides in the shadows, just beyond the edges of the frame.
A lifetime in black and white, spent chasing after your affection, comes down to this:
We are blood.
And nothing more.
This piece of fiction is inspired by this week’s prompt at Trifecta.
1
a (1) : the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body (2) : a comparable fluid of an invertebrate
b : a fluid resembling blood
2
: the shedding of blood; also : the taking of life
Remember:
- Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
- You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
- The word itself needs to be included in your response.
- You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
- Only one entry per writer.
- If your post doesn't meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz.
- Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us.
This week's word is blood.
Photo sourced from the internet.
Oh how sad! I wish she could get the affection she so desires. (I'm assuming it is "she" from the photo!)
ReplyDeleteTammy, I agree. It is sad when families are this way:)
DeleteSometimes families are like that. Relationships may be blood but may not be of the heart. Well-written.
ReplyDeleteSo true Tom, unfortunately! Thanks so much for reading!
DeleteYes, so sad how often this is the case. Beautiful words to describe the feelings!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Maggie!
DeleteA very sad tale! Well written.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe-and I agree-a sad, all too common situation!
DeleteBeautiful words today Valerie.
ReplyDeleteLisa, from the bottom of my heart-thanks!
DeleteThis was beautiful words indeed... Love it.. and the end is devastating
ReplyDeleteBjorn, thanks! I love how you described the ending as devastating too-perfect word!!
DeleteAre these ladies actually your relatives, if so, whom would they be? Thank you Valerie for your fun insight and comments that make me smile a mile. I don't which is better; bees humming or dogs snoring? hahahahhaha. I am glad you like my weekend updates.
ReplyDeleteRenae-it's just an interesting photo I found. I wonder who they were...Thanks, my friend! It's always a pleasure reading your comments too!
DeleteThis was beautiful and haunting - and after reading the last line, it felt so lonely. It is a tenuous bond when blood is the only thing shared.
ReplyDeleteJanna, what a lovely comment! Thank you so much!
DeleteOh you always tug my emotions in all directions....perfectly. B
ReplyDeleteB-I'm always so thankful for you and your thoughts! :)
DeleteOh, the tone of this was so cold, it leaves me shivering!
ReplyDeleteWonderfully written.
Thank you so much! Cold is what I was going for!
DeleteI know this feeling quite well. Solid piece.
ReplyDeleteDraug, that's what friends are for...Thanks for reading:)
DeleteThis is great writing. The first line is well-put, and the distance between the sisters is equally well-described.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I really appreciate it!
DeleteIts well written , sometimes one feels that their best is not good enough .
ReplyDeleteAmbalika, I agree-that can be very true! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
DeleteBeautiful and melancholy.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline-thank you!! :)
DeleteSuch a sad story and true for many. Blood is not always thicker than water. Great job.
ReplyDeleteAnn-I thought of that line when I wrote this, and how sometimes it isn't true. Very sad. Thanks so much for reading!
DeleteI loved every word of this and that you dared to write about a turth so hard that most do not want to face it or accept it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else here, this was beautiful, bold and perfectly stark.
Jennifer, thanks! This piece took me three hours to write-I wanted to get the words-and the emotion behind it exactly right.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo sad and so lovely. LM x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lyssa!
DeleteThe last two lines really hit it, and the idea of indifference being just beyond the frame was a nice way of capturing the idea of the "masquerade of closeness." Good job with this!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that so much, Brian!!
DeleteYes, the last two lines. It hits home, all the way. A beautiful piece of prose, Valerie. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDawn, I'm so glad you liked this! So very, very glad, and honored:)
DeleteI'm sure you touched many nerves today, as this is often the unspoken family lament. Beautifully framed.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think you are right, too:)
DeleteNice. Masquerading as closeness - that's a great line. Great piece, we can all relate to some extent.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steph! That means a lot!
DeleteI know families who are like that. Very well written.
ReplyDeleteKatie atBankerchick Scratchings
Katie, thank you! I'll be by your blog very soon:)
DeletePoetry. This is poetry.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a vote this week, it would belong to you.
Megan-that means so much! Really and truly! Thank you!
DeleteIndifference hiding outside the frame. What an excellent way of summing up this all-too-common relationship.
ReplyDeleteKymm, thanks so much! Keeping lots of wall space open;)
DeleteThis a great statement of freedom and identity. I like it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam! It's true-acknowledging something like this is freeing:) Thanks for your comment!
DeleteSad but oh so splendid - thank you for giving this to us.
ReplyDeleteThomas-what a wonderful comment! Thank you!
DeleteThat first line is so absolutely fabulous, I had to read it a few times just to enjoy the taste :-) Altogether a wonderful poignant piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sara! I love your comment. A lot. :)
DeleteThe writing throughout the whole story is wonderful. I could read so many different relationships into the story, though I thought of sisters with the photo. Those last two lines are so powerful!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate such thoughtful comments like that! Thank you so much for your impression of this piece:)
DeleteThis is beautiful Valerie. And sad. And it sums up my own relationship with my sister perfectly (which is also sad). I love the opening line and the idea of indifference in the shadows. Beautifully written!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne-thanks for such a heartfelt comment! This was one of the hardest pieces I've ever written. It took forever and a few tears as well:)
DeleteSo well written. Speaks much more than the words you used.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula! That is such an incredible compliment!
DeleteWhat a beautiful vignette!The line,"A lifetime in black and white, spent chasing after your affection, comes down to this.."took my breath away & I felt the hopelessness of the situation-such a sad state of affairs when the person you care for so much,doesn't even realize/notice you,leave along acknowledge or reciprocate!
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend! I'm so glad you understood the emotions behind this one! I really appreciate your comment!
ReplyDeleteSheesh! This one hits home my friend, it makes me think honestly about all the relationships I struggle with all the time.
ReplyDeleteKim, it was a difficult few words to write, but I was amazed at how many readers could relate to it. It is so comforting to know we share this common ground, my friend:)
ReplyDeleteWOW. This one is gripping with tension. So few words to say so much.
ReplyDeleteI have always had difficulty being close to either of my siblings. On the other hand, they are very close to each other. I suppose being the youngest, I was an outsider the minute I took my first breath. It fits the saying "three's a crowd." I remember looking through our attic determined to find my adoption papers, which I never found:~)
Fortunately, many other people have filled in that lost hole in my life with so much love, laughter and joy. They have become my true siblings.
This writing was well done and very touching. It definitely fits the "from your heart" description.