copyright-Claire Fuller
My mother smiled. “I know my baby wasn’t like that.”
I looked at her. “Like what?”
“Like those awful people. Those awful dead people at that hospital.” She paused. “I knew you’d decide to be all right again.”-Sylvia Plath
Celeste peruses shelves while her mind flutters.
Wishes for clarity that never comes.
Says prayers for bliss that won’t subside.
How does she slow her savage heart?
With words, music, and love.
Wants to make others see her.
Hear her.
Understand.
She begs for forgiveness.
From God.
Family.
Friends.
Herself.
Is she Esther?
Caught in the Bell Jar?
Gasping for precious breath?
A force of nature.
Longing to be cared for like a child.
Unaware of her strength.
Her force.
Light.
She opens the book,
And begins to read.
Finding comfort in Plath’s darkness.
Sylvia, found no light.
Until death.
100 words (Genre: Hell, I don’t know.)
For anyone unfamiliar with Friday Fictioneers, we write 100-word stories. Stories based on a photo prompt, posted weekly on Wednesdays, on our master site:https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/. The stories run the gamut and the authors come from all over. Stop by Rochelle’s page to find out more. I promise, you won’t be sorry.
As I state every week, please criticize the hell out of my work. Either a red pen, or riding crop will suffice.
That is stone cold… Beautiful, but dark…
I can’t always be sunny. Sometimes my light has to go out. XOXOXXOXOXOX
You’re right. You did a great job capturing those dark moments.
Well done, my friend.
Thank you Daan. You’re very sweet to say so….
“Finding comfort in Plath’s darkness.
Sylvia, found no light.
Until death.”
Beautifully dark! I love it!
Thank you. I’m so glad you did. I find comfort in her darkness too.
nice
Thank you my dear.
Can you even imagine how many words are wrapped up inside of you waiting to unravel? Beautiful.
Stuart for that comment you get a big kiss and I love you. You made me cry a little. XOXOXXOXOXOO Thank you.
I like this, Renee. This composition, what I refer to as free-form streaming (most of my work begins this way) shows a certain growth in your process, an open-mindedness, and a vulnerability, all ingredients necessary to the creative side as compared to the comfortable place where people mimic others. It’s a good sign. Unleash and let it run.
Thank you my dear man, for every word. I have to tell you that writing like this has left me spent. Emotionally and physically. All I’ve done is cry since I posted. I want to go to bed. Who knows where this free-form streaming will lead….
Lovely, haunting and real.
Thank you Jan. I’m glad you liked it honey.
This is a rich darkness – in a good way (for a writer). Your words projecting those troubling emotions carrying poor Sylvia along to the bitter end. Very well written. Renee. Oh, I loved your genre.
Penny, I want you to know that your comment makes me feel incredible. It was so hard to write the verse. I was emotionally spent afterward. I still am.. As for the genre, I’ve never taken a writing class. I just write. Thank you, thank you, thank you for every word.
Renee, you are very good. Do keep writing. Some of the best writers … ever, never had a writing class. I’m happy to support your work. And the emotionally spent part – sometimes that goes with the process … do something nice for yourself during those times!)
Thank you again Penny. Tonight called for ice cream and an early bed time. Sweet dreams to you. I’m proud to have your support.
You’re welcome Renee, sweet dreams to you also!
That line “I knew you’d decide to be all right again” speaks volumes, doesn’t it? A powerful piece – well done.
Yes it does, and Sandra sometimes, we aren’t, all right again.
Thank you for your kind comment.
Lovely – i liked the genre too – I write in that genre most of the time!
Thanks my sweet. I find the genre quite easy to write. Most of the time anyway….
Very, very powerful. Do something kind for yourself. Then you’ll be all right again.
Thank you, and I sure did. Must be purging the soul made me sleepy. I slept better last night than I have in weeks.
Think I might take the advice.
Good for you. Take a snooze. It does the body and mind good.
I meant the purging of the soul. But the nap sounds good too.
Both are equally good. 🙂
I agree with the comments above. Very very well-written. 🙂
Thanks my sweet. I’m glad you’re here and I so appreciate your comments.
Stunning, sis.
Thank you my sweet broseph.
Oh hell. Sylvia Plath. You’ll know I’m in a maudlin, mopey mood if you catch me reading The Bell Jar while listening to Leonard Cohen and sipping a Grey Goose Greyhound. Darling, you nailed it.
You sound like my kinda woman. I can be quite maudlin myself, hence the free verse you just read. Think I might have to pick up my copy of The Bell Jar and dive into the murky sadness. Maybe more words will come to me…. XOXOXOXOXOXO
I like the dark side of you. Of course, I like the light side of you, too.
I think the genre would be horror pg.
Scott
*Still wondering how to send you that story of yours I looked at?
You can send it to me via email. shygirl4429@yahoo.com. I check it daily my dear.
Thanks for helping me with the genre.
Think I’m going to read The Bell Jar this weekend. Don’t think it’ll brighten my mood any. But I may get something equally dark to write about.
Love, Renee
In that case, try “The Dead Sea” edited by Kevin Buffton. I know, at least, one of the stories is scary and fun and all. 🙂
Sounds like a plan. Thanks Scott.
I think this is one of your best, Renee! A powerful one. It reads like a poem and a story.
Thank you. It came from a really dark place. Sometimes depression can make a girl write some powerful stuff. Glad you liked it.
funny how 100 words of poetry seems to tell so much more than prose.
Thank you my sweet. I do appreciate your comment. 100 words sometimes speak so much more than any novel could.
🙂 -blush
Much truth in that. A lot of comfort to be found in the dark… But the end was chilling
It’s true though Bjorn. Sylvia didn’t find her light till her earthly one went out. We, her readers are here to reignite it every time we pick up a book and read her story.
This is a powerful and cathartic piece. I loved the last lines most of all. I almost critiqued the comma after Sylvia in the second to last line but in thinking about how it sounds I do like the pause, putting an emphasis on her name as if to say Silvia… found no light (implying that you do or will but just not tonight.)
I was just reading a discussion which pointed out how people seem to feel they have to be positive and inspired all the time – shiny happy people holding hands even when we’ve just been through a tragedy. I just don’t get the cheerleader approach to tragedy but I’ve always been a little too in touch with my inner goth I guess.
Thank you for your comments and the understanding why I added the comma where I did. I thought it worked. I’m glad you thought so too. While this story was born of sadness that I’m feeling right now, I do know that the feeling will pass. I will be shiny and happy. Sparkly even. Right now I’m not. I want to use the sadness to write a little more darkly than usual. Sometimes we sunny people give away all of our light, and we need someone to shine a little back on is to reignite ourselves.
I’m with you on the inner goth statement. I am too. I may be a blonde haired blue eyed blond, but within me beats the heart of a maudlin pin up girl.
Dear Renee,
You’ve written a gem this week. Thank you for making yourself vulnerable and teaching me something along the way.
shalom,
Rochelle
Dear Rochelle,
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m battling a bit of sadness this week. Not sure why, it’s just something that happens to me from time to time. At least the sadness made for a good story.
Fondly,
Renee
Wow, that was beautiful. I like the connection to the Bell Jar. It’s great when we can get comfort in our own situations from the lives of characters and authors.
Thank you David. Sometimes sadness can be a powerful motivator for a good story…
You know I’ll always pick the crop… don’t need it this time.
I know that’s very true my dear. Glad you didn’t need it this time. Sometimes a little depression makes me write better….
I love this! The writing, the topic, everything. I’ve been reading Sylvia a lot this month, thinking a lot about how she died. This was perfect.
Thanks my sweet for the kind comment. I usually write happy. Glad I didn’t this week. I think it was pretty perfect too. Mwah!
It’s almost painful.
It’s about me honey. It was like giving birth.