By Michelle Christophorou
Swallows swoop, signalling summer. This season, a time-worn tale: meet boy of my dreams, yearn, have heart broken.
In the buzzing tall grass, arm fuzz almost touching, we talk Yeats, orchestra, Manchester City. I’m dazed with desire: my hand clumsy on his thigh as I dive in for the kiss.
Adam is on his feet. “Jesus, Nick! You’re queer?” His face opens as he looks down on me: eyes confused, expansive; not hard. Hope flickers. But he walks, and my dreams fly away.
Like commas on blank lines, swallows alight on long wires. If my heart would only leave with them.
Good tale of thwarted love and desire…..happens to us all.
Thanks, Patricia. Certainly does!
Manchester City 🙂 – happy days!
Lol. I’m an Evertonian myself. Not so happy …
I guess love will always remain a two way street, and no one knows a heart until it breaks.
Exactly!
Beautiful story – though I did laugh at the mention of Manchester City and Adam’s reaction. As intended, I’m sure 😉
Thank you so much, Kathryn. Lol, not at all – have always felt an affinity with the blue half of Manchester. Spending so long in the reds’ shadow …
Beautifully told.
Thank you 🙂
I could see what was going on in paragraphs two and three. Excellent description.
Thanks, Susan. I’m so glad it came alive for you.
Great stuff Michelle – more power to your pen! “Like commas on blank lines” – proper writing!!
Thanks, Jim! Ooh, proper writing ?
Sorry, that ? was supposed to be a smiley face …
Michelle, this is beautifully written. Can’t wait to read more of your work!
Thanks, Nnenna. I’ll do my best!
Well written but you gave away the end at the start – “meet boy of my dreams, yearn, have heart broken” at the very least with the lost love and these days few girls pine for a “boy” of their dreams, but males still use the phrase “girl of my dreams” so the homosexuality was subtly flagged.
Thanks for the insight, Perry. I don’t think I was trying to disguise the homosexuality. But I was aware that, knowing the writer is female, and the object of desire was male, most would assume the narrator was female too. That helpfully reinforces the message that all (legal) forms of desire are equally valid, but my main aim was not the grand twist.
Superb writing Michelle – well done! Delighted to learn I’m not the only Evertonian in our class!
Thanks, Alan. Really?! We turn up in the most unexpected of places.
Beautiful!
Thanks ?
Sorry, another smiley face fail …
Wow Michelle! Just wow. Put me in a tight spot that story!
Thanks, Prabhu. I think?!
A delightful read. Great job on imagery, courage and disappointment.
Thank you so much, Joy.