My Heart Goes On

    Pulsating within me, throughout life pieces are given. Sealed with a kiss, I promised forever to my husband. Unconditional pieces given at first glimpse to my daughter, then to my son. Each piece pulsating deep within them, living again through their memories.

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The Model

   

   Twenty pairs of inquisitive eyes scrutinize as my kimono pools at my feet.  I model.  Damn goose flesh!  Blushing, I avert my eyes.   Rustling newsprint.  Their eyes dissect me inch by unforgiving inch.   Focused.  Determined to capture my essence in two dimensions.

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The Dare

“I triple dog dare you, eat it!”

Squeamish, Tommy screwed his eyes tightly shut, and dropped the wiggly worm into his mouth, gulped, and shuddered, grimacing.

“Well?”

“Blech! Slimy, salty, disgusting bit of nastiness!”

Huh, Google claims worms taste like bacon.

“Really?”

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The Last Request

Photo Credits: Geetika Gupta 

    

    Would his heart race, then jolt to a stop?

       Would death be excruciatingly painful?  

      Terrifying thoughts plagued him ever since the conviction.  It didn’t matter that he hadn’t killed her, couldn’t kill her. 

No one believed him.   

      Failed appeals, endless testimonies, and the meager evidence: in the end, no one had been convinced.  As far as the world was concerned, he had brutally murdered her.  The mighty hand of justice had failed him. 

      Fast forward to his last request:

watching the sunset while sipping a final glass of wine, resigned, eager for the peace and freedom only death could provide.

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Never Again

     Tears fell as Kara packed her bag.  Another trip to the emergency room revealed her husband had broken her arm, split her lip, and given her another black eye this time. 

     “Damn woman, you are always sick.  You really are a worthless bitch.” He taunted before hurling a beer bottle at her.  She couldn’t help the allergies that had plagued her since childhood.  A quick apology only egged him on.

       As she picked herself up, she spied her 5 year old cowering in the corner and vowed this would end for her son’s sake, and her own. 

Never again.

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Avenue of Imagination

Photo provided by Parul Kashyap Thakur

     Sunlight dancing through the canopy of trees provided a kaleidoscope of flickering shadows on the forest floor.  It was one of the reasons Cassie sought sanctuary within its fragrant depths.  A safe haven, here she could escape, blend in, and find refuge.

     Surrounded by towering oaks, she felt protected.  She sang, danced, and chased shadows.   Her imagination unleashed, she penned stories and created illustrations of the beings she imagined lived there: unicorns, dragons, and fairies.  

      Years later, the avenue of towering trees were woefully replaced by condos and street lamps.  Illusions gone, only memories remain of that distant enchanted place.

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Betrayal

A vision in white, my bride glides towards me to the triumphant strain of Mendelssohn's march. 

“I can’t marry you.” 

Horrified.

"I’m pregnant with your brother’s baby.” 

Enraged.

 My fists connect, 

flowers fly,

and the best man is down for the count.

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That One Crazy Friend

 

     A song playing and I am transported.

      Stunned, I quickly crank the volume losing myself to the beat. 

      Tears glisten in my eyes, as I belt out the lyrics. Priceless snippets of you flood my senses:  dancing on tabletops, mooning the student body at the pep rally.   I even remember the aftermath of that one crazy night that began with shots of tequila, stealing the Mackinac Island Ferry, and ending in a night in jail after your speech to the cops that you were Jack Sparrow.

  I’d sacrifice everything to experience reckless insanity again with you just one last time.

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The Welcome Committee

Checking clipboard and package, the delivery man presses the doorbell.

Bells chime, then loud, vicious barking erupts  followed by thundering feet.

Heart pounding, terrified, he braces for the beast within. 

Rottweiler? Pit bull?

The door opens.

Smiling lady and Chihuahua: sweet relief! 

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The Depths of Imagination

Bobby filled a pail with water.

Plunging a fishing line within its depths,

he waited,

proudly proclaiming he was fishing. 

Worried, friends feared for his sanity. 

His mother realized his imagination encompassed infinity.

Fathoms of vibrant fantasies to capture, investigate, and explore.

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Childhood Recycled

        Desperately wanting a Radio Flyer for my toddler son, I paid my parents a visit to locate my old wagon in their garage.  I found it, paint faded and tinged with rust, on their patio overflowing with potting soil and blooming daffodils.

 

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Let's Go Again!

 
    Unprepared for the explosion of force that propelled me 420 feet skyward at a dizzying 120 miles per hour, 

I white knuckled the restraints screaming.  

Plummeting back to earth seemed terrifyingly faster.  

 I saw God.  

Then, 

I shit myself...

like a boss.

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Ready When You Are

     A crock pot filled with seasoned sirloin swimming in a sea of mushroom soup with carrots, celery, potatoes, and onions for companions.

  

     Nonstop chatter peppered with laughter and a pinch of heated debate washed down with tall glasses of ice cold water. 

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Cake

     Ingredients assembled, pan perfectly greased.  Carefully measuring, mixing, and preheating for the suggested temperature.  Baking, the aroma is heavenly!  Timer dings: carefully, I retrieve my culinary masterpiece from the oven. Pandemonium, chaotic as the kids pursue dogs…colliding, splat…oh shit! 

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Unconditionally Yours

 
     Following birth, your cries silence at the mere sound of my voice. Instant recognition astounds me.   Bright animated eyes of wonder captivate; you reach for me.   My utter enchantment unleashes joyful tears. Overwhelmed by unbridled happiness, love, you possess my heart... absolutely.

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