Scarlet Red

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Her hand hovers uncertainly over the scarlet red lipstick on her dressing table, one that had been seldom used and had remained untouched except for a couple of occasions in the past. 

The red on your lips makes you look like a slut. Even today, thinking of the hurtful things he used to tell her makes her flinch, like the invisible knife he had twisted into her heart, with each word it would dig in deeper. 

She shakes off the memory and picks up the tube of her favorite color, applying it evenly over her luscious lips; it would look beautiful with the short black lace dress that she had picked for the evening. 

Strapping on the black high heeled sandals, she smiles at herself in the mirror before heading out, if he saw her today, he would hardly recognize the woman she had turned into, but she felt a calmness come over her when she realized that she no longer cared. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Lipstick at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

The Forgotten Daughter

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Alisha was the first born, the result of many sacred prayers. Though her mother was blessed with two more children, it was Alisha who was the apple of her eye. 

She was pampered and loved; but the day she chose to live with the man of her choice, she was deemed an outcast by the family. 

Seven years later, as her mother wept on her death bed, a gentle breeze brushed against her cheeks. She believed it was a final kiss from the forgotten daughter who was banished from her house, but never her heart. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Forgotten at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Linking this post to Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge. 

A Fresh Start

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When do you realize the moment has come to move on; to carry on with your life? For her, it came like a stroke of lightening, threatening to destroy all that she held near, if she didn't move something quickly. 

She decided that what she needed was a fresh start, away from the mess that her life now resembled. 

Her scars were a chink in her armor, but they made her who she was today. As she stepped onto a new year; towards a new beginning, she carried with her only those memories that were worth cherishing in the future. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Fresh at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Linking this post to Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge. 

Broken Trust

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With each touch, you made music for my ears. Why was it that time spent apart from you always felt like torture? 

It was never meant to be easy; and that's what I loved about us. But no matter what, you took my breath away, each day; kept me grounded to the stark reality called life. 

I still believe destiny played a part, a cruel twist of fate when I broke your trust and you left, only to never return again. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Trust at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

The Seven-year Itch

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It had started off as small bouts of irritation; a frown here, an exasperated sigh there. But before they knew it, the years of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with each other soon caught up to them. 

Seven years, that was what they had invested into the marriage, nurturing a relationship which was supposed to last forever. 

The tradition was the same on their anniversary night- red wine and candle lit dinner as Beethoven's Moonlight sonata played smoothly in the background. The divorce papers on the table fluttered lightly in the wind; that insatiable itch was soon going to be curbed. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Irritation at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

The Perfect Life

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She had always looked at me in envy; at my perfect life, my successful career, my immaculate clothes. It was never this way, we were the best of friends growing up. 

But the green eyed monster, once it rears its ugly head, is often difficult to get rid of. 

Uncomfortable silence now nestles between us. But what she doesn't know is that behind my seemingly perfect life is a trail of unhappiness, behind my high paying career is a tale of betrayal and the figure hugging clothes that adorn my body hide the scars that are a permanent infliction. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Envy at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Over the Horizon

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The sun glistens over the horizon turning the waves into smoldering ashes. I breathe in the saline water that tingles my face, a strange calmness overcoming me. 

The sun will soon be submerged in the endless torrent that was washing the shore and caressing my feet.

Today, I stand independent; excess baggage has been shed and I shall no longer allow others to manipulate me. After what feels like hours, I finally head towards home, tomorrow is going to be a brand new day.  

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Horizon at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

A Writer's Dilemma

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I was ready to tear my hair out in frustration; the very purpose of this visit was lost. Here I was, a struggling writer who wanted some peace and quiet, sitting secluded in my hotel room. 

Just a minor hiccup- I could't write; call it writer's block or simply the lack of creative juices flowing when I needed it the most. 

I was confused, such breathtaking sights outside the window that called out to me and the inability to concentrate on what my protagonist needed, on the other hand. 

The breeze, crisp and fresh, wafted in through the open window, caressing my face; I shut down my laptop and went outside, where hopefully, the answers would greet me. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Confusion at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Pickled

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He was a regular customer at the local supermarket where he battled his conflicts about the purchases he made, so often did he shop there that the shop assistants were on a first name basis with him. Maybe it was gentle demeanor or maybe it was that he poked in nobody's business; the children in the neighborhood always looked forward to those days he went shopping as he always bought them chocolates and other little treats. The old ladies blessed him for his kindheartedness for he offered a helping hand around their homes. 

Each week he went and bought large ceramic jars, the ones that are used to make pickles for it was his hobby and people always wondered among themselves why such a nice man chose to remain unmarried. He shrugged off their inquisitiveness with a smile and went back home to his secret- the dozens of female brains that remained pickled in the jars that were arranged neatly on the shelves in his basement, one for each of the women he had dated.  

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Conflict  at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

P.S. I'm not a psycho! It can be partly blamed on the numerous Dexter episodes that I have watched in the recent past.

A Candle in the Dark

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They told her that he would never come back, that he was either cheating on her or probably married to someone else by now. But she continued to light the candles daily at the Church, simply waiting. The Church had never betrayed her till now; it was where she had seen him first and it was here that he held her hands as she wept at her mother's funeral. 

There were so many candles that stood alight at the altar, flickering in the darkness, offering solace and hope; so many people came seeking happiness, health, wealth and praying for miracles to happen. 

But there was one which always stood out, for it was the only one that glimmered with trust. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Waiting at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Facade

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She was secure in the knowledge that her marriage appeared happy on the outside; and he of the fact that that his affair was a secret. 

But they both knew that their life was a lie. 

The facade showed a content couple, but it dared not reveal the dissatisfaction that a bit of gentle probing would unearth. The picture that adorned the mantle had them beaming at the camera with fake smiles plastered across their faces. As night fell, they went into two different bedrooms, living their own separate lives. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Secure at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Fearless

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A thousand doubts crept up her mind. What if this doesn't work out; or what if he wasn't the One? As she walked alone though the woods with just her thoughts for company, somewhere along the way, she made up her mind. 

To conquer her fears, she would have to face them. 

The woman that came out of the woods did not have a cluttered mind, true, she still had a lot of fights to battle, but her heart was fearless. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Fearless at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Also, linking it to Day 27 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

P.S. I'm exhausted. This is the longest time that I have been posting non stop. Every day of this whole month. Still a few more to go. So sorry if I have actually stopped making sense altogether. 

Paper boats

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I watch my daughter playing in the rain with the colored paper boats; seeing her unmasked joy as I sipped my cup of steaming coffee. In her, I see myself, many years ago. So many dreams and my life had been brimming with hope, like hers now. 

But like the rain water trickling into the paper boats slowly, threatening to reduce it into a pulpy mass any moment, my hopes had been crushed like those dainty crafts. 

It cannot happen again, I think fiercely; my daughter would chase her dreams and no one can snatch that away from her. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Rain at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Also, linking it to Day 18 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Beyond pages

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When her classmates ridiculed her during school days, for having her nose buried in books all the time, she turned a deaf ear towards them. When her family laughed at her decision to quit a full time job and be a writer, she ignored the voices that were pulling her back.

But today, when she turns the pages of the complimentary Author's copy that her publishing house had sent her, she feels a deep sense of satisfaction. Here was her life and soul bared out for the entire world to judge. 

Not once did she regret listening to her heart; her book held all the answers which made it all worthwhile. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Pages at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Also, linking it to Day 12 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Behind the mask

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The moment I stepped into the party, I couldn't take my eyes off her. I was dazzled, not that I could see much of her face, more than half her face was hidden by the mask she wore. 

I caught a pair of feline eyes looking at me through them, the kind that reminds you of golden specks in a pool of brown, that drew me in and yet I could not place them. 

And it was only later in the night, when I got her to loosen up over a couple of drinks did I realize why she looked so familiar. She reminded me of my wife who was tucked away safely in a box under my bed and I smiled. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Dazzles at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

The other side of the fence

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We are worlds apart, I can never be hers. Yet, I wait, patiently for the Saturday evenings to see her. She comes faithfully, with utmost devotion to see me on those days. We stand across the fence, looking into each other's eyes, her big brown ones into my black. When her Dad holds her hand to take her back to the warmth of her home, she looks back wistfully thinking, I wish Midnight was mine.

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Fenced at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

A birthday wish

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It was Stacy's fifteenth birthday. Her favorite chocolate cake was here, so were her friends and gifts. When it was time to blow out the candles, she closed her eyes and wished fervently for the one thing she wanted the most in the world- her parents by her side. As she  blew out the candles and opened her eyes, her wish came true. In the form of two glittery wrapped parcels sent by her parents from two corners of the world. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Wishes at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

A bond across time

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No one had expected our marriage to last long. We were so different, and I was so young. And today, as we celebrate our fifth anniversary, I feel a swell of pride looking at the man who still made my heart skip a beat. Father of my twin girls and my best friend still. And tonight as he held me close after sharing a glass of wine, I just knew that some things are meant to last forever. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Marriage at Lillie McFerrin Writes.