The diamond emitted its own energy -- projecting the color of the caribbean onto the otherwise white linoleum floor. &quot;It's spectacular, Derrick.&quot; The awe of the moment stole the emphasis and emotion from my words. I stated them blankly, distracted by the immense beauty of the intricately cut and otherworldly size of the diamond. I was ashamed. Such a magnificent treasure sat in the kitchen of my trailer home like royalty would in a horse barn. I'd never tell Derrick how dissatisfied I was with my own life. But the instant I looked away from the diamond I saw the same rat grey cabinets and the same mouse brown counter. Dirty dishes were piled high. One mocking plate stuck out, still crusted with ketchup from my two-hot-dog-dinner four nights ago. The rusty red ugliness smeared the plate and clashed against the emanating blue beauty. I lost control. &quot;John?&quot; Derrick noticed my silent tears fall. He put an arm around my shoulder. My self hatred poured over, trickling in the faint glow. 2008-05-04T20:26:35Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/29335 <p>Great job taking the fantastical story onto an emotional road. All the best sci-fi has grounding in genuine human emotion.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29335?basename=60330 2008-05-04T20:26:35Z THX 0477 http://ficlets.com/authors/thx_0477 <p>trailer eh, mkay&#8230; lol. love the decsriptions of the messy trailer. intriguing. thanx for reading and sequeling, you rock.<br />LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29335?basename=60307 2008-05-04T16:43:21Z Kermitgorf http://ficlets.com/authors/kermitgorf <p>I even gave the main character a totally different name if that helps my case ( I hope).</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29335?basename=60289 2008-05-04T05:37:13Z Tad Winslow http://ficlets.com/authors/tjd <p>In no way did I mean the main character to be depicted as you Kermitgorf. I wrote this before I read Dark&#8217;s story and it turns out that he actually used your pen name as a character. I meant it as a fictional character. Please forgive me, im innocent I swear!</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29335?basename=60288 2008-05-04T05:35:50Z Tad Winslow http://ficlets.com/authors/tjd