Love letters

January 28, 2012January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 20 Comments

Before Internet, before email, they wrote love letters to each other. She tied them with a red ribbon, secreting them away in the rafters of the attic so they wouldn't scandalize their children. A little Trifecta lagniappe, or a Trifextra, for the weekend. A love story challenge, written in only 33 words. Backstory: my husband … Continue reading Love letters

Demon within

January 24, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 10 Comments

Twisted tightly within my breast lies in wait A feral demon, foul and terrifying. Coiled, set to strike at its vulnerable bait. The fiend’s fabricated facade belying Its true predatory nature, starved for prey. Small and grim, destroyer of hope undying. Each of us toils to hold such a beast at bay, Struggling to control … Continue reading Demon within

TriMeme

January 22, 2012January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 16 Comments

For the past few weeks, I've been participating in a new writing community Trifecta. The powers-that-be there have asked that we tell each other a little about ourselves. I can't pass up a good meme... What is your name (real or otherwise): Tara Roberts, sometimes just Tara R. Once upon a time it was Opalstorm ~ … Continue reading TriMeme

The ruling class

January 17, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 23 Comments

She swept into the courtyard followed by her entourage of nodding sycophants. Casing her malevolent gaze over her subjects, she carefully selected her next victim. Who did she endeavor to destroy this week? Each of her ladies in waiting were specifically chosen for their beauty and prestige, as well as their inability to resist their … Continue reading The ruling class

Honeysuckle tears

January 12, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 16 Comments

Outside on the lanai, under rented white canopies, mason jars filled with sun-brewed sweet tea sit untouched on the table. Tears of condensation roll down the glass, leaving wet circles on the old linen cloth. Gran's tatted lace doilies, yellow and wilted with age, hang forlornly from the backs of the chairs. The stifling gloom … Continue reading Honeysuckle tears

Leftovers

January 5, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 15 Comments

A crockpot simmers on the kitchen counter, its lid rattling under the built up pressure of steam, filling the room with the rich aroma of apples, cinnamon and oranges. Mulled cider being the drink of choice while packing Christmas decorations to go back into the attic. Stacks of opaque plastic bins stand at attention in … Continue reading Leftovers