Clara « Where I Find Myself

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Clara

May 19, 2008 by chrislacour

This isn’t yet where you’re supposed to apologize.
Not yet.

This is in her car.
The two of us.
And I’m telling her, it’s ok, people do this kind of thing all the time.

She’s stopped talking.
Stopped apologizing.
But I still hear her.
She’s spinning those words through her head.
Around and around.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

This is our second time meeting like this.
This is behind the backs of everyone we know.
And I’m telling her, it’s ok.
I’m telling her, we won’t get caught.

I tell her to go slow.
To take it easy.
Not to rush things, I say.
I tell her that’s how people do get caught.
They get too excited. They just can’t wait for this great big something new they’ve wanted for so long.
They get careless, I say.
Sloppy.
And they get caught.

I tell her, just one drop at a time.
In his coffee.
His cigarette.
In his breakfast, his eggs or on his toast.
Wherever.
But just one at a time, I say.

Let the poison do it’s work.

Slowly.

Posted in Fiction, Short Stories | Tagged Creative Writing, Fiction, Short Stories, Writing | 7 Comments

7 Responses to “Clara”

on May 20, 2008 at 7:25 am1 Paul

Cool, narrative poetry is so hard to do and that is brilliant, i love turn around endings and that one is perfect, perfectly timed drip drip. Great short story poem thingy, made my day.
on May 20, 2008 at 9:13 am2 Simonne

A surprised smile took over my face 8 lines from the end - I’m assuming that was the plan! It’s great
on May 21, 2008 at 10:30 am3 chrislacour

Paul, Simonne,
I was actually surprised by this one as well. I honestly had no idea where I was going when I began to write it. It was one of those where I just write down a random line and go with it.
I hope it was obvious enough that it turned out to be a prelude to “Gods Call”, which I posted about four weeks ago.
on May 25, 2008 at 7:12 am4 Simonne

Just read ‘Gods Call’ - well done! The imagery of the raven is great. More?!
on May 25, 2008 at 7:45 am5 chrislacour

Simonne, thanks.
I would be curious myself to see where this goes. . .
on May 30, 2008 at 8:21 am6 the advice girl

Chris, this is amazing, it had the satisfying feeling of a short story, I kept reading and my heart sort of gasped until the end where I was palpitating with a combination of surprise, fear, and exhiliration. Nice ride, very effective.
on June 2, 2008 at 12:27 am7 chrislacour

Veronica, thanks. So happy you enjoyed the ride!