Opening

It was too early to wake him, so she slipped on her jeans and yesterday's T-shirt, and, shoes in hand, walked out the door, barefoot. She closed the door without making a sound; she'd had a lot of practice at leaving silently. The sun had not yet shown itself over the hills, but the sky was bright enough for her to see where she was going. When she reached the street, she eased her tennis shoes onto her feet.

She started out at a lope, wanting, no, needing to breathe deeply as the night evaporated into morning.  Her lungs filled with cool air, and, after awhile, she slowed down.  She'd run far enough.  She stopped to catch her breath and stretched her hamstrings against a tree; she ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing it, and looked around.

Hanging from the tree, just inches from her nose, was a vine with some tightly wound dark purple flower buds on them.  As she watched, they slowly unfurled.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, uncut black diamond. Hand forged and hand fabricated.