Wednesday, May 25, 2011

100 Word Challenge: The Hungry Hour


3 a.m. and she’s still awake, lying in the dark, in the too big bed, listening to the sighing hum of her own breath.

It’s about this time of night that he would shift, half-awake and seeking, bring their thighs to meet, brush sleep-purposeful fingers against her belly. The hair on his chest would tickle between her shoulder blades and his breath would burn the back of her neck.

It took years to get used to.

It will take more for her body to forget.

And the incalculably cool space on his side of the bed gnaws at her spine.


This is for Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge. I stumbled on it today and thought I'd give it a shot... It was especially tempting as I'm currently editing/QAing for the day-job and my poor brain needed a break from the technical side of things.


13 comments:

Carrie said...

I love this. The image you create is so evocative. I can feel her pain, see her lying there alone.

Awesome. Welcome to the 100 Word challenge

Tara R. said...

You do create a vivid portrait of a lost love.

Welcome to the Challenge.

L. M. Leffew said...

Thank you both for the lovely comments and the welcome.

M said...

I find this very poignant and can definitely take this one to heart. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Wow, excellent write. Great imagery!

PurpleMoose said...

no words - thank you.

L. M. Leffew said...

"no words - thank you."

You're welcome. Thank you for commenting.

"I find this very poignant and can definitely take this one to heart. Thanks for sharing!"

Thanks so much. I felt like I wasn't making as much of impact as I'd wanted, so I'm glad to hear people are getting something out of it.

VV said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
May said...

I think you found the perfect way to convey her emptiness and loss. Who can't imagine that loving reassurance in the dark of night and then feel the loss at its absence? Very moving.

Anonymous said...

Wow, feeling the vivid loss of something that she had to get used to in the first place? Perfectly put together.

julie moore said...

This made me imagine myself in this her place so it made me oh so sad. this depth of loss is hard to explain but you did a good job of doing it.

Katie @ Chicken Noodle Gravy said...

Amazing...the loss is palpable. Like Julie, I imagine myself in the main character's place, and I feel pain and loneliness. Such a gift to be able to evoke such emotion from so few words. Great job, and thanks so much for linking up with us!

L. M. Leffew said...

Thank you all for the wonderful comments.

All images are copyright to their respective owners and used according to Creative Commons agreements.