Short Story, Writing Exercise

Perchance To Dream

Written for Violet’s Quote Challenge where she
has asked us to include the following quote into
our writing: β€œIf you’re happy in a dream, does

that count?
”
Here’s my response to the challenge.

Continue reading “Perchance To Dream”
Ovi Poem

Dazed and Confused: An Ovi

Written for dVerse Poets’ theme:
Poetics: Dreaming up a Poem.
This is my Ovi based on a dream
.

My car after the accident

We were in the car
Hadn’t gone very far
Not a cloud the sky to mar
It was a glorious day

We went to the casino
Hoping to win lots of dough
Trying not our money to blow
The slots were on our side

The sun was bright in the sky
We were happy, spirits high
The road was clear, I could fly
Where should we go for lunch?

Suddenly a huge traffic jam
On my brakes I did slam
Fishtailing, I felt the ram
Some guy hit me really hard

No way could I stop it
Roll roll roll flip into a pit
All we could do was sit
Gravel poured through the cracked sunroof

Police and ambulance appear
Anyone in there? Can you hear?
I’m in shock, feel no fear
We’re rushed to the hospital

I’m ok but my husband’s hurt
There’s so much blood on his shirt
He’s dazed and confused, not alert
God, please let him be ok

Dream ends and I wake up
I reach for my water cup
Heart is racing, thump thump thump
This is a true story

NARΒ©2024

This ovi poem is based on a horrible rollover accident from 2001 in which my husband and I were involved. The photo above is what was left of my car. I believe in God and I’m sure he was watching over us. It’s been 23 years but I still have dreams of that day.


This is β€œDazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.

Flash

PERCHANCE TO DREAM

Come to bed, pretty.

Can you hear the wolf beckoning you?

Let the Sandman cradle you in his arms, protect you from the macabre terrors of the night.

You trust me, sweet child, don’t you?

Foolish.

NAR Β© 2023
36 Words

This is Metallica and β€œEnter Sandman”

Please join me today
as I host another round of
Name That Tune.
It’s an oldie but a goodie!
https://rhythmsection.blog/

Uncategorized

STOP THE HEARTACHE

As soon as I pressed the “publish” button, I got a little thrill. This is the 400th story I’ve written for my site sine I began writing in 2017. That is a great accomplishment for me and I thank each and every one of you for making that possible. I hope you enjoy #400 as you read this latest ink. 😎

β€œMr. Bennett, we did everything in our power but the injuries were too extensive. I’m sorry. Your wife did not survive the surgery … the surgery … the surgery … your wife did not survive …”

My eyes flew open and I gasped for air like a drowning man. My fisted hands clutched the disheveled sheets on my bed. I was soaked in sweat, my heart racing. The recurring dream came back last night. Gradually my heartrate slowed down and my fists unclenched. Laying on my back, I stared up at the softly whirring ceiling fan. I closed my eyes for five seconds and the tears started. It never gets better; it never gets easier.

Three years ago my darling Olivia, my life-force, my soulmate, my wife of two ineffably brief weeks died in a ghastly motorcycle accident while on our honeymoon in Barcelona. Frozen in place, I stared at her broken body; my brain told me she was dead but my heart and soul refused to listen.  

I remembered the ambulance and police arriving, the excruciatingly long ride to the hospital, the lonely wait in the eerily quiet emergency room and the surgeon’s words … those words that haunted me day after day after day. My wife was dead, my brief marriage erased and my heart crushed. We hadn’t even opened our wedding gifts.

I dragged myself to the shower, trying to wash away the dream. It didn’t work. It was time for me to leave here, escape the memories and the sadness. Our friends stopped calling long ago and there was nothing left for me. My parents were dead; Olivia’s parents wished they were dead instead of her. In this huge world I was utterly alone. It was time for me to go.

A loud thunderclap announced it was not a good day to take out the bike. I’d been sleepwalking for three years and I’d had enough; I needed to do this. For the first time in forever I removed my wedding ring and placed it on the dresser next to my phone and wallet.

β€œWill the bike start up?” I wondered β€œOr has it died, too?” I grabbed my helmet and walked to the garage. The bike was plugged in; when did I do that? In one of my rare moments of clarity? I slipped on my gloves, opened the garage door and climbed on my bike. It was pouring and I had no idea where I was going. It didn’t matter; I stopped caring. Now I needed to stop the heartache.

NAR Β© 2023