Blog Chain: Writing Prompt


The blog chain has swung around again. Christine is this round's question master, and she posted a fun writing prompt for us.

Since we are all writer's, I thought it was about time for us to stretch our creative muscles and do a little writing. So, take the following topic and go crazy! Show us what you've got. Your story can be as long or as short as you choice. 

The topic: A dark and stormy night.

Here's my story. It came right off the top of my head yesterday and this morning as I was in the shower. I hope you enjoy it.
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The dandelion sat alone in the grass, spotlighted in the silvery pool of light from the shining street lamp hovering above. I watched as a drop of water slid along one petal, a single tear cried from the passing storm clouds above. Grass was moist under my one cheek. At least, I suspected it was.

The numbness invaded every inch of my body. This happened. More than once. I had a medical condition. I forgot what it was called, some long medical word formed from a dead language that's supposed to be indecipherable to all patients so they feel inferior to the doctors who treated them. Nobody likes to have competition to their profession. Nobody likes to have the patient know more than the doctor.

I felt it happening on my way from Rachel's house. We had a few drinks. We had a few laughs. I tried to sneak a kiss in and she pushed me away. "Time to leave, Mike. My boyfriend will be back by midnight."

I wish I could roll onto my back. It's not to stare around the place. I knew where I laid. It was a shortcut in a patch of field behind the apartment building. I always came this way, hurrying toward my car parked in the alley a street away. No way I wanted Rachel's newest boy-toy to catch me with her. He was a bouncer at the local club. I didn't want his fists bouncing off the side of my head. As I had reached the field, the numbness happened all at once. It started from my toes and ran all the way up to my hair. I flopped to the ground like someone had shot me in the back.

I would have been happy to lay there, musing on my own thoughts until the numbness went away. It usually took several hours. Laying there on my own, on the grass, watching the rain cry itself out on me and my dandelion. But...

Oh god...

I never told Rachel about my condition. I could hear her nearby. Sobbing as the wail of sirens sounded again a few feet away. Several black shoes walked by again, small moons showing on the leather as they reflected the street lights. If I had to make a guess, those shoes belonged to the detectives examining me. They talked with a professional manner. A bit hurried for my liking. They clamied this was the second dead body they had to deal with tonight.

But. I. Am. Not. DEAD.

I screamed and thrashed on the grass. At least this image ran into my mind repeatedly as a white pant leg bent near my head. The paramedic took an official reading. All his medical doodads telling him something not true.

Please. Oh god. Please don't put the sheet over me again.

My world turned silvery white as the paramedic covered up my body from head to foot. My only company was the dandelion, sharing this white-shrouded tomb illuminated by the street lamp. Another drop of water ran along the dandelion petal.

Cry for me, little dandelion. They will be taking me to the morgue. And this time, I don't think the numbness will fade before the coroner cuts me open to find out what had supposedly killed me.

Well, that's my story. Read what Katrina posted yesterday and make sure to stop by Eric's place tomorrow for his story.

14 comments:

  1. It's pretty scary that professionals like the detectives and paramedic don't know how to check for breathing or a pulse. ;) I loved Mike's voice, especially in the second paragraph. Nice touch with the dandelion.

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  2. Yikes! Appropriately creepy for the prompt! I'm just glad the scene ended BEFORE the morgue because I might have fainted if I had to read that part. LOL. I love the set-up, the suspenseful fear of being caught. And this line: But. I. Am. Not. DEAD.

    Compelling writing!

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  3. I wish I could remember the name of the disease. I actually saw (several) shows about it. It talked about that a person's heart slows down so much that it seems like they have no pulse. People have actually been buried alive because of it--back in those days where medical science wasn't so advanced. Glad you liked it. I've got some research to do.

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  4. Oh wow! What a powerful little piece, Michelle. Well done!

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  5. Grrrrrr! This is so incredible, and yet irritating because I have to follow it up with writing of my own. It's like following Van Halen at Monsters Of Rock. How do you compete with that? (grin)

    Seriously, this is really good stuff Michelle. I especially like the details, such as the feel of the grass and the dandelion. The scary thought of not being able to move while still being alive and aware is really frightening, and it comes through nicely here. Awesome job!

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  6. Eric, just tune in your inner Led Zepplin and strum out your own version of "Stairway to Heaven." I'll be rocking my head with lighter held up high.

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  7. ooo Loved it! I've actually read about that disease before. It was in a book of weird facts I have. Now I'll have to go look it up lol

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  8. Heh heh, I don't know if it was quite Led Zeppelin, but I did manage something halfway decent ;)

    Thanks for the encouragement, Michelle!

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  9. ooohhhh...I SO loved this one!

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  10. WOW! Your writing carried a punch. Kudos!!

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  11. Dude. First of all: how in the world was I not following your blog? What's wrong with me?

    There is probably no answer to that. Sorry. I've fixed it.

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  12. Wow, awesome ending. Love the idea of the coroner cutting someone "alive" open.

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  13. Ooooh, you've got something going here. I know the condition the guy has--it's on the tip of my tongue and I can't remember it! There's a real horror in the idea of being cut open by a coroner while still alive.

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  14. Wow! Loved this! Great job! :)

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All comments are welcome. Thanks for stopping by!