by Steve Tanham
(pixabay image by Natan Vance)
“And therefore…”
She was making fun of me; a fire in her eyes, and drawing circles on my skin after lovemaking, circles that burned with desire and brought me back to life in way that broke the fences of before…
“I’ll show you,” she said, rising from our newly-earned bed.
I stood, shivering in my expensive raincoat at the end of the street. Stood inside my chalked circle within which I’d be safe, she said, mocking with steel, walking to the end of the street, looking back at me.
The orb in that dreadful sky blinked as though waking. Its intensity followed her nimble form as she strode back toward me. The parallax broke the world… the impossible followed her down the street and towards us both.
The chalk circle burned into a ring of fire, its flames licking my skin beneath the frighteningly thin coat – my vanishing, single defence.
“With both feet,” she howled above the ringing of the orb, daring me to fail…
With scorched feet, I didn’t….
©Stephen Tanham
Written for Myths of the Mirror.
https://mythsofthemirror.com/2019/03/01/march-speculative-fiction-prompt/
Sun in Gemini 
Thank you so much for taking up the prompt, Steven. I love the mystery and tension in this, the danger, the challenge, and the victory. This feels like such a tantalizing taste of something larger. I’m looking forward to sharing. ❤
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Thank you, Diana. Done from my phone in a restaurant in Manchester (England), so you may have to adjust the references. WordPress not great on iPhone… 😎
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It looks good, Steven. I have about thirty submissions so far (and it’s only March 6th!). Oh my. I have it set up for a reblog in about a week. 🙂
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Wonderful, Diana. Glad you liked it 😎
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Flash fiction is often mysterious, speaking more in images but I couldn’t understand who is she.
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The woman who leads the moon, Balroop! 😎
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Moon has always enchanted and lured women in songs and poetry. This is another perspective! Thanks for the clarification.
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My pleasure… although this is only my take on the image. Diana may have other interpretations. 😎
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Falling through the portal (the moon is a harsh mistress, they say…) (K)
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Heineken? He was so good. Verbose, sometimes but worth it! Stranger in a Strange Land… great plot. And, yes, memadtoo, she, the Moon is very harsh…
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Heinlein…but a beer is always welcome too!
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Quite! 😎
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Sodding spell-checkers. That was ‘Heinlein’ of course!
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Reblogged this on Myths of the Mirror and commented:
A story of challenge and triumph from Steve. Enjoy!
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This has a mystical quality, but not in a calming way. It’s intimidating. It’s fabulous.
Diana gave everyone a wonderful image prompt this month!
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Thank you so much, Priscilla! Yes, she did… a fabulous image to fit to words.
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An excellent piece, Steve. You could write more about this.
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Thank you, Robbie… that’s food for thought!
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Powerful piece! I enjoyed this, thanks 🙂
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Thank you, Jacquie.
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Enjoyed this little story.
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Thank you. Glad you liked it.
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Great ending! I enjoyed this, thanks!!
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Thank you, that’s kind.
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