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I’m doubling-up on prompts again! (Why not start the year off right?)
Lillie McFerrin’s Five Sentence Fiction prompt is “ENDING” and week 71’s prompt for the 100-Word Challenge for Grown-Ups over at Julia’s Place is “…as midnight struck….”
As a side note, I rarely put forward for Julia’s challenges anything I personally would deem above and/or beyond the PG rating certificate (Lillie’s challenge comes with no caveat about rating, though I think we police ourselves well enough), but I’m rather liberal about mature subjects, myself. I leave you to be the judge if this is inappropriate.
“Between Them”
The first time they heard midnight strike together, there was just the job between them: script, soundtrack, timecode, a story due by deadline.
The second time it happened, though, they passed between them their own stories, of husbands, wives, and wanton regrets, kept secret until that moment.
By the third, between them there was nothing at all, save the taste of wine on fevered lips…and prospects of forever whispered in his dark hotel room.
So, on the fourth, while still wrapped around each other, he asked the question smoldering between them. And, in his bed, as midnight struck, she answered with a kiss.
I’ve stayed away from Robb and Emma for a while, but this double-edged sword of a mixed prompt plucked at my heartstrings a bit too much to ignore.
What ENDING did you create? What happened when midnight struck? Let me know!
I always enjoy your fiction – and it’s a great testament to your writing that I recognised these two characters from previous pieces, even though you din’t name them here. I love the way you always manage to entiwne two stories – one in writing and one left understood but untold.
Looking forward to reading lots more of your writing in 2013.
love the stages of this story 🙂 x
And oh how very scandalous indeed!
I also really enjoy the way this builds from platonic to passionate, it feels very real and too tempting not to fall into. I really hope you do more of this story in the future, as I for one m curious about their other halves as well, to see all the ingredients that put them here.
Thank you, Sally-Jayne. That’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever heard about my writing. 😀 I suppose it’s because these characters are so true to me, even in small snippets.
Thanks, Jenny! I’m having fun fleshing them out bit by bit, too. 🙂
Thanks, Shade. As I mentioned to Sally-Jayne, I think these two come so easily to me for the reasons you mention: they’re very real. And, while their conundrum is at its core a simple one, there’s still a fair amount of complexity to navigate. But, that’s part of what makes them fun. 🙂
You did a wonderful job of saying so much in so few words. That is real talent. And I apologize for it taking so long for me to formally follow your blog!
Thanks for the kind words, JM. 🙂
These limited-word/sentence challenges have really helped me bring a succinctness to my writing. I’m not sure it’s always the right choice in terms of storytelling, but it’s always a fun exercise.
Very nice.
I don’t think I’ve visited here before, so I don’t know Robb and Emma.
But I do understand characters who won’t let go of you.
Cheers!
JzB
You do steamy well, without overdoing it. I really like your narrative here, because you kind of teased us along to the point where I just wanted to know already! 🙂 Nice job.
Thanks, Kate. Steamy is my personal indulgence. 😀
Shocking, just shocking 😉 Seriously, I’d say this is within PG limits – and it’s a nicely told compact story of promises broken and new promises made. For now.
I really liked this. Very, very nicely written – and realistic – although I don’t know if I would write as optimistically as you re: the 4th year 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Dancing. …Is it an optimistic “ending” on that fourth night, though? Or is she kissing this affair goodbye?