Up and Towards the Stars

Writer's Cramp: A puppy, butterflies, field of sweet smelling wildflowers.

Becky stretched out in the grass, on her back. She stretched out an arm to adjust the high heel that was slipping off her foot, feeling as if she was in an entirely different world. Everything was so peaceful--she felt calm right down to the toes of her soul.

She answered the tickling of an ant on her arm by gently pushing it away and back onto a blade of grass. She imagined herself an ant, looking up and seeing the tall grass stabbing at the sky. If I was an ant, Becky thought, I'd believe that was high as I needed to be to sit on a cloud.

Without sitting up, Becky reached out and picked the only wildflower in sight. She took a whiff and found its scent so intoxicating it seemed to tickle her throat and make her giggle. It smelled sweet and delicious. She wanted to sip the nectar like a bee and chew up the petals. Regretfully, she wished to be in a movie or a storybook where such things were possible. Of course, at the thought of movies, her happiness fell and her smile dropped into a frown. All she could think about . . .was him.

What a contrast between memory and present day! With some nostalgia, Becky recalled the warm weather of Sierra Leone--closing her eyes, she could almost feel it. Her clothes clinging to her damp--glistening--body and how it was still hot and even stickier on rainy days. She recalled, unwillingly, a soaked Jacob Jones, Hollywood superstar, trying to get his car out of the mud and the way he'd purse his lips together and seem almost to pout when he was angry. It was almost cute.

Although Becky’s recollections of Jacob were usually bitter, she felt relieved Delany was not around. Who but her closest friend could detect her slightest hint of a smile at the thought of a boy who had hurt her. Becky cringed and was thankful for escaping a nudge in the ribs. Unlike Delany's boyfriend Jim, who believed--for whatever reason--that Becky and Jacob were soulmates, Delany believed Jacob was nothing but a scumbag who thought being a movie star gave him the right to take advantage of unsuspecting girls.

Becky gasped, suddenly, and her thoughts were lost as a tiny ball of fur hurled itself through the grass at her face. The puppy stopped just short of sitting on her head and instead, attempted to drown her with kisses. "Oh dear," Becky said, "Death by licking." She heard laughter from somewhere above her and she nearly stopped breathing. Looking up, squinting slightly in the sun, she saw an Adonis--a Greek God of a man, the sun hit him like a spotlight.

"Oh, hello," She said weakly, struggling to a sitting position.

"I'm sorry about Jacob," he answered.

Becky's mouth went dry and she tried to gulp before answering breathlessly, "What?"

"Jakie, here," he said, rubbing the dog's head. "He loves meeting new people."

"Oh! The dog. Heh, right." Becky answered, attempting to regain composure. "Don't worry about it. He's sweet."

The man smiled at her. "He likes you."

What a smile, Becky thought, If not for the dog named Jake I could forget all about...my Jacob.

"Anyway, sorry to bother you, we'll be on with our walk. Com'on, Jake. Come on, boy."

"It was nice to meet you. And Jake," Becky answered, and waved goodbye as they disappeared into the grass.

After a couple minutes of hugging her knees, she pulled herself up and stood. She saw Adonis and the dog disappearing behind the horizon, chasing a frisby. Standing up, she could see thousands of wildflowers all around, and inhaling deeply, she could smell them--sweet and fleeting.

A butterfly fluttered by and Becky was shocked when it came up to her, and like a joke, sat at the tip of her nose. She almost laughed going cross-eyed trying to observe the butterfly on its perch, but frowned as it easily gave up, and flew off. Up and towards the stars. She reached for it and whispered, "Jacob."

If you enjoyed this, please check out "The Other Side"  by Madame Lunacy.