the novel.

A book in one hand a cigarette in the other. Held high in a small delicate holder. As she glanced in the mirror she could see her room behind her dark as night the only illumination was her bed behind her where her lover lay. Her skin looked gray, silver almost as if belonging in an old photograph, though in the proper light the girls shone like bronze, the sight as warm as touch. They had just finished making love soft sensuous their two bodies like liquid in the night. Mixing becoming one. Afterward Rae had fallen asleep while Serena stayed up smoking and reading. Sex always made her uneasy as if she had opened up a bit too much she always felt as if she was with herself when she was with Rae. A breeze blew in brushing against her bare back she shivered dropping the ash from her cigarette onto her vanity missing the glass ashtray entirely. Suddenly she felt sick. As her stomach churned and her shoulders shook in the cool air she began to cough. Setting down the book she began to walk into her restroom. As she leaned over the cold porcelain she began to feel herself getting warmer. Or was it the bowl getting warmer as it absorbed her heat onto the smooth white surface. Though her bones rattled and her stomach twisted and soured she could vomit. She began to sob her cries echoing into the night her cigarette still burning beside her as the ash began to pile up on the coffee colored tile beside her. She felt Rae walk in. She felt her standing besides her, watching her not bothering to stoop down and pull the hair back from her face like so many nights before when they stumbled home after too many drinks. Drunk off love and laughter smelling like cheap perfume and the sweat of the young gods who danced the night away in their clubs. Masked in makeup and the newest trends. Dresses the colors of mixed drinks and wine coolers, gorgeous women and young men smartly dressed eyes distant lost in the world of sensation. Lately Rae refused to go to the clubs, So she went alone drinking silently at the bar ignoring the advances of so many faces, shed get drunk then walk to the dance floor getting lost in the music the pressure of bodies around her hands in the air, trailing down like ribbons swiftly turning with her emotions. Afterward she'd call a cabin walk in to the house where she'd find Rae still up writing in her little book, or drawing in her studio throwing the paint onto the canvas like glasses against the floor.

She had stayed home tonight, had a glass of wine with dinner. Only one knowing that too many glasses would upset Rae. After they had watched a movie laying together on the couch until they began to get distracted with touch and went up to the bed room. “You read my novel.” Rae stated coldly. She always got like that. Refusing to show emotion unless it was in her work. Instead of crying or getting angry instead of letting any emotion taint her words her thoughts her decisions shed lock them away only to visit in her work. In the violent outburst of passion in her words. In the loving strokes of her brush. Serena felt so sick. She was shaking now, it probably wasn't the cold air at all. No, it was the lack of alcohol that night she needed a drink. Those words those words she didn't want to hear any words again that night. She just wanted another drink. Cold on the rocks. She wanted to feel the icy burn on the back of her throat she wanted to feel her self getting lost in oblivion. The only sound in the house were her sobs. Rae stood there for a few seconds more until Serena quieted a bit and wrapped her arms around her skinny legs staring at the burned out cigarette on the floor. She heard Rae's soft footsteps as she left the room. Heard her pick the book up off the dresser throw it against the wall then walk down the stairs into her studio.

Reviews

[Jeff Hunt]

I like this. I had to reread it several times to cope with the lack of paragraphs and the indirect allusions. It's good.
I loved 'She felt her standing besides her, watching her not bothering to stoop down and pull the hair back from her face'
That seems to sum up the story and where the relationship was at. I think the story would be tighter if everything before that line was removed.
I also loved. 'Masked in makeup and the newest trends' Brilliant sentence.
And I liked. 'She always got like that. Refusing to show emotion unless it was in her work.'
It seemed to be written in two styles. A little flowery up to when Rae walks in and tight after that.
Great real-life analysis of a struggling relationship. Quite a difficult read, but worth the effort.