One More Minute

Suspended in a delicious moment, all the sweeter because I have to stop this...

Just one more minute...

I pulled away saying, "I'd better go,". Started walking towards the house... only for everything to glitch and look: I hadn't moved away at all.

When Leah was younger I'd taken her to the fair. I remembered the merry-go-round with those garish horses. This was like that. Round and round...

I pulled back, transfixed by his mouth. Not because of my attraction, but because his lips were moving in a way that didn't match what he was saying. He looked like he'd been badly dubbed.

"Sorry, what?"

"You have to wake up, Viv. Please."

I turned to walk back to the house, carrying this heavy suspicion that I'd already tried this... He caught at my hand and held it.

"Please, Viv."

"I'm trying," I said.

I heard Michael's voice, as if he was standing right next to me. Guilt dripped off me, off my strappy top and expensive perfume. I whirled round, excuses ready, but he wasn't there. His voice was coming out of Alex's face.

It was all getting too confusing, I could've suffocated with it. I want to let go, relax... but the voices on all sides were persistent.

The hedgerow was wrong. I looked closer, it wasn't even solid. It was like a cloud, shaped and coloured to look like a hedge. I swiped a hand through it. Everything was the same, the houses... The harder I looked, the more they dissolved into smoke.

Something pressed into my soles. I looked down and I was standing on a tightrope, the only real thing in billowing clouds of mist all around. The wire jerked, as if someone was pulling on it. Then it jerked back the other way.

The voices kept nagging me to wake, but I don't know how to leave here!

"Do it," Michael says.

Lips pressed against mine. It felt different. Like I was drowning and this was a kiss of life. No sooner have I thought this, than the mist is a flood, and theres something, someone, lifting me out of it. There's a hand in my hair and she's responding, just keep going.

Everything felll away except the pressure of him. The world coalesced and reformed around us. A clinical white world full of antiseptic smells and harsh beeping.

When my eyes opened, I saw the back of a man leaving the room. The door clicked shut.

I am alone.

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THE STORY CONCLUDES HERE

Word count excluding note: 366

Submitted on Tuesday 2nd July at 

*Quick Author's Note*

First, and most importantly: thank you so much for reading my story! The ha'penny that Vocal will toss in my hat for your eyeballs landing on this humble piece will be well-spent.

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one continues my 183 day streak since 1st January.


Please do consider lending your support to the other creators who are also on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They are putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

Please do leave me a comment: I reciprocate as many as I can. Leaving a comment makes that easier.

The story behind the story: I always try to write these so they can be enjoyed as stand-alone stories, but you can also read this as a follow on from these:

Sleepless in Suburbs

Just One Hug

Too Many Mississippis

DreamFix-1000

Goodbye Dreamboat

Stay

Sleeping Beauty

True Love's Kiss

Thank you!

Thank you again, most sincerely. Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed! 😁

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Edited to fix formatting and add links back in.