The stars were shining in defiance of the coming storm. Though no clouds yet darkened the horizon, the storm was building out of sight. The gunfire piercing the night and echoing still in his thoughts were proof of its inevitable march across the sky. Rain and thunder had always accompanied, mirrored, the tempest on the ground before and he had long ago lost hope that their relationship would change. When shots rent the night, the following day would be miserable with weather.
Hitching his coat around his neck, he stepped free of his porch and across the dusty driveway to stand at his property line. His gaze was drawn east to catch the first of the morning’s warmth pressing against the heavens. Soon the world would spin enough to pry the fiery orb from its nightly slumber, but it would only shine for a few hours before clouds overtook it.
The thunder would roll forward first, signaling its slow approach. The crash and tremble would echo in his small valley and his thoughts would return to the previous night. Then the sky would soften and the rain would patter and splatter turning his driveway into a river of mud. The torrent would pound against everything in its path until it was satisfied its lesson had finally, and brutally, been imparted.
The students were never paying attention though and the violence would continue. He understood the duality of his kind even as he pondered the same and watched night give way to dawn. The edge of the world bruised and then blued. The sun came into view and the light shimmered in the clear air and reflected off the ground, heavy with dew. It was beautiful and hopeful but he could trust neither.
The gunfire echoed in his memory again and the first peel of thunder reached across the world as the clouds began to form. Small at first, they stretched high into the atmosphere before spreading horizontally to blot out the sun. The day crackled with energy. The storm sizzled with retribution.
He stepped away from his property line and retreated to the partial safety of his porch. The danger was real, no less than it had been the night before, but that didn’t mean he could shirk his responsibilities. It was day and that meant work must be done, despite the risks and the coming downpour. It wasn’t yet time to get started, though. The sun was still shining.
So, he watched the storm build and he waited for it to arrive. Once the first fat drops splashed into the dust he would step into the open again and begin. He would track down those who had called down the storm and he would silence them forever. One day, he hoped to keep the storms from raging at all. One day, he knew someone would come looking for him.
And the cycle would continue for someone else, to wake to the ringing shots and wait for the resultant storm.
This one brings a bunch of striking visuals. I love it. Passion and frustration is my favorite duality.
Thank you for some morning inspiration.
P.S. You redecorated this entire kingdom & it looks SO gorgeous. This theme is way more you.
Ra thought the place could use some changes and she graciously offered to spruce it up.
I like writing about our duality far more than I like seeing it in myself.
I had a sense there may have been magical dino hands at work here. 😛
She has a gift for this stuff. I’m sure you know it even better than I do. It’s like she can see the “personality” of a site & somehow bring it to life.
As for sides, conflict – sometimes even inwards can be a good thing. Keeps whatever is at hand stirring; constantly evolving.
Don’t always fight it. Sometimes we’ve just got to let the sides/feelings/emotions brawl it out.
Good point. Let them fight it out… and write it all down. 😉
Fight it out then write it out. That might make a neat t-shirt. 😛
Every author would understand.
I would so totally buy that Tee.
ah, always the return of the storm – love the images
Thank you!
The edge of the world bruised and then blued. So much imagery to choose from in this post, but this is one of my favourites. I’d happily go on reading this–will there be more (pleeeease)? It is thoroughly intriguing 🙂
Hmm… I’m not sure if there will be more spun off this one. But, I wrote something today that I think is equally full of imagery that hopefully you’ll enjoy when it posts next week (probably Monday.)
Thank you! I’m glad you liked this!!
Ohhh, that’s disappointing, but I’m really looking forward to Monday’s post now 🙂
I’ll remember you liked today’s, and come back to it this week if I can.
So vivid. I can feel the conflict. Powerful. In a way, it reminds me a bit of your early writing, but way more potent.
You have excellent memory. I did a lot of “the hypocrisy of me” posts in the beginning before I knew what I was doing… Not that I know what I’m doing now, but my writing has come a long way in 3 years.
You know exactly what you are doing, even if you don’t think you do.
*bows* Thankee kindly.
I like this one a lot, Matt. Thanks, man!
What are you thanking me for? I’m glad you liked it! Thank YOU for reading and for the support!