His possessions are too few to even fill the tattered green duffel bag, now sitting by the door frame staring back at him. Its holes piercing his skin, like anxious eyes begging to "hit the road."
Jenny's eyes on the other-hand, swell with tears. She sits slumped against Leonard's porthole to freedom, praying silently he won't go.
Silence fills the room with thick, barely breathable air, while Leonard's less-than-erect posture reflects just how torn he is over his two most-prized possessions. His love for Jenny, and his wings. Jenny ... seems to have lost her wings.
While his visceral throttle continues to rev, Leonard's body remains motionless as he reflects back six months earlier when he and Jenny met at Burning Man. A cultural event held in the hot Nevada desert. Being free spirited individuals, they both went unaccompanied to what is basically considered a social experiment.
His memory takes him back to day three of the six day event. He envisions his shirtless stroll through the crowd of "creative pioneers" and how the glow of daylight's flame glistening from Jenny's long, golden blond hair caught his attention as he passed her.
Leonard remembers how his interest was peaked even further as he turned his head to inspect what had sparkled in his peripheral vision. A memory he chooses to shake off as he fears its potential to clip his wings.
Reuniting with the here-and-now, he turns his head to take one last mental picture of the woman he loves.
"Well, I must be traveling on now." Leonard mumbles, breaking the silence.
They both slowly stand in synchronized unison and the all-too-present tension intensifies.
"Leonard PLEAAA ... "
"Are you sure you won't come with me Jenny? There's too many places I still must see. WE still must see."
Jenny sighs and repositions her back against the front door, sliding down it into a squat. She shakes her head, burying her face into the palms of her hands. Leonard clears his throat, choking back his own tears.
He takes a seat on the edge of the sofa and fights his urge to cry by mentally returning to the Burning Man. He just doesn't know what to say and the earlier silence is reinforced.
He sees Jenny walking in all her glory. Her bare European complexion revealed from head to toe. He thought; "her body must have been sculpted by Michelangelo himself."
Leonard knew that nudity at the Burning Man was an open invitation for somatic connection. He smirks as he pictures himself making the u-turn to go after this vision of loveliness.
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
by Tonya Barton
His possessions are too few to even fill the tattered green duffel bag, now sitting by the door frame staring back at him.
Add your voice
Know something about Short stories: Inspired by the song FreeBird, by Lynyrd Skynyrd?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Featured Partner
The Project on Government Oversight (POGO)
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and o...more
hide