The Act

It was the first cold night of the season.

I walked around in the cold, wearing a light t-shirt and shorts. I’d known it would be cold, the uptight weather lady made it clear the night before when my brother insisted we’d watch the weather report. The whole family was there laughing and talking and I sat in the corner of the too bright room. Everybody knew it wasn’t for the “weather”.

It was midday and the clouds were thick, grey at some places and black at others. The darkness swallowed up the place. The air blew and howled at me, outraged that I did not fear it. And I walked through it, trying to seem that i wasn’t fighting it. I had other things to fear.

People kept staring at me in wonder, I didn’t even look cold while grown men were bundled up in jackets and scarves trying to protect themselves from the painful breeze. The air pinched and scratched me as I walked on with my annoying smile that stretched only from chin to nose.

That thread bracelet you made me tightened up around my wrists. It reminded me of the bear trap I put myself in. Oh how well I could fake.

“good morning!” “good morning!” I greeted colleagues, stretching that smile as far as it would go, then letting it fall back into default.

Then I saw you, standing in the same place you never leave, leaning in on your herd of depressed wannabes, whispering then staring. That’s all you could do.

I smiled even wider. An actual smile this time, ironic but sincere. I thought of the stupid days I’ve day dreamed and wished but in stupid, irreversible vain.

You see, I saw through that. The charade of poker faces and clouds of smoke and the disappearance of light from your eyes, from your face, from your black tattered shirt didn’t fool me. not then, not now.

My shirt was white, bright and happy. I knew that somehow it would annoy you, anger you that I wasn’t like you. I was the complete opposite just to piss you off.

The breeze hit again and I dropped my act for a split second and shivered. My body ached to find warmth but i pushed it further. You dropped your act and gave the lightest move, a look around for a jacket in sight.

I straightened up, I wasn’t about to be your damsel in distress. No, sir. Smile back on, I walked away with a hole heating its way through the back of my skull. You stared again.

Before leaving, I took off that damned bracelet and dropped it on the ground.

I turned around, I smiled, you stared.

Author's Note

would like to know your opinion of story and style. thank you

Reviews

[roarke]

Interesting inside look. Good show of moods, personalities. I'd like to see one or two more descriptors about the narrator at the beginning. Middle and end are fine.

[Matthew Bass]

It´s a great piece of prose, and a great introduction to a story. The only thing I can say is add on to it, and develop a beginning middle and end. If it´s meant to be a piece of prose or a glimpse of life it very good.