68. The Contortionist

There was a time when she didn’t know what to do with this body. It felt foreign and disconnected from who she thought she was. She mistreated it but it still loved her back. Now she knew it’s every curve and angle as she showed it off to others. The effect was always pleasing. Though few could guess, it was to her perspective first.

67. The Archpriest

The trip had been arduous, a journey few could bear. She had whittled down her possessions long ago to accommodate her travels. Tossing them aside she joined the line up with tourists of all kinds to go in, light a candle and say her prayers. Upon exiting, she was somewhat miffed that her bag was missing. With the joy of God in her heart, she was it as a sign that she carry on without her heavy load.

66. Seatbelt Photo

It was the only picture he had of him. He had been staring at it for years trying to figure him out, why he left, and what resemblance they had with one another. Searching within the shadows he tried to connect, emulating and adoring the image. As he got older he realized he was nothing like him and his anger rose. He buried it under a stack of record albums. Now the dude who bought the collection from him was returning the long lost photo.

65. The Boots

She was happy to be herself regardless of his tentative demeanor. She learned long ago that laying her personality on the line was an honest approach. Her habit was to reach out and grab what she wanted. He clearly had to ponder it. She would wait this time, but not for long.

64. Paris Match.

The memories flooded back. His years as a journalist gave him a self worth that had eroded in old age. No one cared anymore. He bought all the magazines he’d written for, devoured every piece, and then burned them in ceremony. It was not until that moment that he realized how much his personality was linked to this bygone era. He pulled out the old typewriter and wrote his story as if his life depended on it.

63. The Entourage.

It was freeing to be out, but she felt guilt regardless. Her usual entourage, clamouring. sticky hands, needy voices, attention seekers, were missing. In the brief time away from them she felt good, independence lent itself easily to her. But her thoughts would stray, what they were doing, what they were eating, were they missing her. She stemmed the guilt and bought them new socks.

62. Exit

It looked forbidding even at her petite 8-year-old stature. The “Do Not Cross This Line” spelled “Go” to her as it crossed her eyelevel delineating right from wrong. Of course this just made her want to do it more. This attitude would come in handy as an adult. As a child, she was a rebel, who made her poor mother exasperated.

61. The illusionist

They were all taken in by him. He knew that and took full advantage of his talent to have his audience in a trance. Though his own mind often drifted; what he would eat after the show, was the costuming congruent, were the musicians with him or against him. But he never flinched or let that escape show. It was amazing what you could convince people of with smoke, lights and the drone of a rhythm he thought. As he scanned the audience with an intense stare, he decided definitely fried chicken tonight.

60. Lite Brite

He lay motionless cursing modern technology. They had said his hip would be better than ever. Liars. The feeling of his body slowly giving out on him was bizarre. He felt all its bits held together like a robot, the kind he used to win trophies for at the Statewide Science Fair. He was tormented by his lively mind stuck in this decrepit shell. Maybe the lady who smelled of cakes from 4F would come by, she always took the stairs.

59. Bodka

It felt like he was forcing it on me. He was trying to coax some other personality out of who I usually was. A bottle of courage wasn’t going to do it. I knew what I needed, it wasn’t him, loud music or smooth booze. But what I wanted was another story. He had no idea what he was about to unleash.

58. Soostalan

She couldn’t explain to anyone why she loved him, she just did. Over the years she had questioned herself; he couldn’t cook, he left a whirlwind mess around him, he hated being social and loved hip hop. If they were mismatched in their tastes what was left over was super connectedness. Plus he was the best lover she’d ever had.

57. Slit

If he fixed his eyes and focused then everyone would think he was fine. He envisioned his life beyond this group and it’s cloying darkness. He hadn’t figured out how to extricate himself and find somewhere else to go, though he was dying to. The fantasy of making new friends was appealing. Then he wondered if it was the booze talking and he was over-thinking it all.

56. Elevator

She wanted to go though knew she shouldn't. The decision held more weight to her than to anyone else. The draw and release was in her power in that singular moment that moved slower than any other she'd experienced. She heard them laughing from inside, freely giggling. And realized the invitation was more benign than she imagined.

55. Kealan

She usually wasn't needy. But tonight she decided it couldn't be miscontrued since she was getting what she wanted. It had taken so long, she had repressed volumes, and now it was clear how to let it out. In her own measured way so no one would suspect a thing. It was her truth and her time. Luckily for her, they accepted it without question.

54. Motel

She had come for him. This place had nothing to do with her and every aspect of it stung her skin. She only felt herself if he was there, and now he wasn’t. It was crippling. The idea of creating a new environment for herself was more than she could bear. She got in her Mustang and drove back to the city.