Ficlets

The Fall of Icarus

“Did you remember to pick up my dry cleaning on the way home?” I asked, throwing myself bonelessly on to the sofa.

“It’s on the door,” Tommy muttered, not bothering to look up from the television. I was surprised he even responded.

“Do you see that picture there, Lil? The one with the clouds, and the sea that goes on forever?” Tommy asked me. “I’m going to take you there one day. Just you and me on that beach. Would you like that?”

We used to be so in love. The kind of love where you’d stay up all night just to watch the new day begin. His smile could make me feel like I was the only woman in the whole world.

“And how we gonna get there Tommy? I don’t think the city bus’ll be too obliging.”

The dreams went first, followed by the love. Slowly it degraded into comfortable cohabitation; a business relationship with vestiges of affection.

“For you darling, I’ll build us some wings.”

I shut my eyes, imagining the droning of the television to be the rushing of a sea that goes on forever.

Comments

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The Fall of Icarus
THX 0477
Posted 9 months ago

Ooh, chilling, absolutely chilling depiction of a relationship sunk by entropy. Awesome. One of your best so far, I think.
The Fall of Icarus
Stovohobo
Posted 9 months ago

I agree with THX , a beautiful ficlet void of your usual paranormal propaganda and yet one of your best…I love the title and the “bonelessly” part. Perfect description.
The Fall of Icarus
YodaOnCrack
Posted 9 months ago

Love it – you have such great ficlet talent!!!
The Fall of Icarus
SKermitgorf
Posted 9 months ago

Her cynicism,and the fact Tommy seems oblivios that things have drastically changed in the relationship, were what got me the most, if hes not oblivious at least he’s trying to bring back something to the relationship/marriage,and bus’ll part was awesome
The Fall of Icarus
horrorfan13
Posted 9 months ago

I love this! It’s so indicative of what happens in a lot of relationships today.
The Fall of Icarus
Mycroft
Posted 9 months ago

That’s so sad…turns the picture from something simply beautiful into something intensely poignant. The “business relationship” line in particular is heartbreaking.
The Fall of Icarus
Cavalry Calhoone
Posted 8 months ago

Why do most people end up this way? Why do they get so compliant with boredom? It sucks that this story is so true, but you hit the issue on the head.