Short Story: Interlude to a Departure

“The fire escape is rusty,” Henry said.


“It always had been since we started sitting out here at age thirteen,” Jess responded. 


“Five years on, other things have changed. The rising sun is threatening to take you. You’ll go, I’ll never see you again.”


“I won’t forget you.”


“Is what they always say.”


“Only mouths are we. Who sings the distant heart which safely exists in the center of all things?”


“My lips sing for you,” Henry said. “Like any good music, it will exist and disappear. Only lingering in the memory of those who were there.”


“Make me a memory then. Let your lips sing unrestrained from any promises other than tonight.”


“I will my darling. You will be my masterpiece. Our lips will speak about it years hence, but they will do this moment no justice.”


“I hope so,” she said smiling.

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A prosery prompt from d’Verse. A 144 word long story that includes the quote “Only mouths are we. Who sings the distant heart which safely exists in the center of all things?”

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Copyright © 2021 TJS Sherman All rights reserved.

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