no. 15

Look at the picture. Write for 10 minutes. Post a response or keep it for yourself. Here’s what I wrote. Steal it if you want. More info on this project here.

Even When You Don’t Want To

She’d only had one glass of wine before leaving but yes, everything did seem a little brighter. It was raining and the streetlights looked like diamonds, casting their sparkler dims onto lakes that were growing at the crosswalks. Sparkler dims was a phrase she’d read in a book. On the Road. Jack Kerouac.

Rubies and sapphires from the neon signs in the storefronts. Topaz and amber and emeralds from the street traffic and streetlights. If there were stars somewhere up there — unlikely — they were diamonds too.

The bodies of the other people seemed soft and gray, seemed to absorb all of the light. Which made sense. Which made her feel like she was just another light sucker.

She jumped, caught only the very edge of a puddle. Which gave her a little splash.

Her mission was simple: don’t fuck things up.

How hard could that be?

She would get to the restaurant — one that she’d recommended. And he would be there. And stand. They would embrace, a full-length hug.

How’s it going? He would say.

Great. She would say. This week has been great. I want to quit my job and last night I spent about two hours staring at my wall listening to “The Sound of Silence” on repeat wondering when the night was going to end.

No. Don’t do that.

She jumped over another puddle.