Ficlets

Reading With No Answers

She stared. That’s all she did, I swear. Well, and the tear, but just one.

Frankie had dared me, “Go on, see what the crazy ol’ lady says about your areola.”

“It’s called an aura, dummy,” Lupita corrected, “And mi abuela is not crazy.” It always amazed me how Lupita could take a simple word, like ‘not’ for instance, and load it with threatening meaning.

This went back and forth for a few minutes, and as it looked like it was about to come to blows I slipped into Abuela Cruz’s dimly lit apartment, leaving my two friends to bicker on the stoop. The sounds of the city street seemed to fade away in the stillness of the apartment.

She motioned to a chair, so I sat across from her, looking back over the top of a decorative lamp. Having no idea how this worked I just sat there, probably did it wrong though, not that I’ll ever know. She just sat and stared. Her face was impassive, locked still.

Time stretched out. I felt oddly removed. She stared, shed one tear, and heaven help me I ran for the door.

Comments

Average Reader Rating:

Reading With No Answers
Ana Cristina
Posted about 1 month ago

My mother swears that one night she was able to see people’s auras. I swear she must have been drunk, but I wasn’t born yet when it happened and not there to witness it, so who knows?
This story reminded me of that.
It’s really well written. It’s also begging for a sequel. I want to know what she saw!
LoA
Reading With No Answers
thebetweenspace
Posted about 1 month ago

I do too. Great vivid descriptions and it left me begging for more.
Reading With No Answers
THX 0477
Posted about 1 month ago

Thanks, guys. This was a desperate attempt on my part to break a bout of writer’s block.
Reading With No Answers
paper flowers
Posted about 1 month ago

Oh wow, what did she see!? Kind of reminds me of one of my friends who talks about people and their auras…she can be a little strange sometimes too. Awesome ficlet, I hope there’s a sequel!
LoA
Reading With No Answers
Freedom
Posted about 1 month ago

Great job on this. I am curious too about what she saw. It just seems to be the way you wrote it; making us all want more. Outstanding job!
LoA
Reading With No Answers
Storykeeper of Fae
Posted about 1 month ago

Hmm. I wonder why she cried. What could she have seen in the narrator’s aura that was so unsettling, endearing, or saddening to provoke a tear? I wish I could come up with something!
LoA
Reading With No Answers
Capital "W" Writer (LoA's Geekus Awesomeus)
Posted about 1 month ago

O, wow, that was fabulous, THX ! In a way, I want to know what exactly she saw, but in another way, I think the story is perfect as it is. I’m not certain if I want to see a sequel or not! :D
Fabulous job, as I have come to expect from you.
LoA
Reading With No Answers
flute faerie
Posted about 1 month ago

Yay, it’s a featured Ficlet! Congrats, you deserve it!
Reading With No Answers
YodaOnCrack
Posted about 1 month ago

Very nicely done, Sir THX … I’ve always admired your writing, and this is very well done indeed. Very interesting & could go many possible directions. Bravo!
Reading With No Answers
.:band baby:.
Posted about 1 month ago

I completly agree with all the above. Wonderful and grats on the featured ficlet!
LoA
Reading With No Answers
Ana Cristina
Posted about 1 month ago

Congrats on being featured! This deserves it. :)
Reading With No Answers
Capital "W" Writer (LoA's Geekus Awesomeus)
Posted about 1 month ago

I still can’t help laughing at “see what the crazy ol’ lady says about your areola”. Pure genius!
And, yes, congrats on the feature.
LoA
Reading With No Answers
Blusparrow
Posted about 1 month ago

This is really good! It must of been pretty bad for her to cry like that. Congrats on being featured!
LoA
Reading With No Answers
Flute Loop<33
Posted about 1 month ago

amazing as usual
LoA
Reading With No Answers
duckn
Posted about 1 month ago

love it. i see auras but only at times. i have to concentrate.
Reading With No Answers
I LOVE FRANK IERO AND WILLIAM BECKETT!!!
Posted about 1 month ago

Hmm, interesting.
Reading With No Answers
Adam Short
Posted about 1 month ago

Love it. Just the sort of thing I like in a really short story. It says “This is all there is, but it’s enough”, and it is. First time I’ve felt compelled to comment on a story on the front page of ficlets, you have my admiration.
Reading With No Answers
Kermitgorf
Posted about 1 month ago

Congrats on Features Ficlet Sir THX , and I’m glad your writer’s block is over, one of your best Characters so far.
LoA
Reading With No Answers
I LOVE FRANK IERO AND WILLIAM BECKETT!!!
Posted 26 days ago

Happy event you got featured, congrats!
(Late comment.)