Moth to the flame

June 18, 2014January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 7 Comments

Grey clouds take over the sun, plunging the city into a premature night. Streetlights flutter on, like reluctant children being rudely awaken. Hunched on a park bench, I watch moths surrendering to the flames, and flinch with each crackle and sizzle. If I stand on tip-toe, balancing on the back of the seat, I can … Continue reading Moth to the flame

Passion flower

February 4, 2014February 4, 2014 ~ Tara R. ~ 22 Comments

He hung in tatters above her, wielding guilt like a weapon. Twisting the blade a cruel turn, he accused her of terrible betrayals. He flung her love across the room, demanding she confess her infidelities and deceptions. The more she struggled to convince him of her devotion, the more fiercely he denied it. Tearing at … Continue reading Passion flower

Cornflower fields

April 18, 2013January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 6 Comments

The cell is all I know. Brick walls on four sides, and a single window at floor level my only source of light. I’ve lost all track of time, not knowing the passage of days, only counting meals. Does the gruel come twice a day, once? Does it even matter? It’s difficult to tell if … Continue reading Cornflower fields

Out of the light

January 28, 2013January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 27 Comments

Like Jonah swallowed into the belly of the whale, the mouth of the dungeon consumed him whole. Light and life drowned in the darkness. The cries of the wretched, the only prisoners escaping.