“The Photograph”
Apr
'08
The tears that caked Eve’s face weren’t fresh, but she hadn’t bothered to wipe away the residue before she fell asleep. She lay on her side, spread across the living room floor in her apartment. Her dark hair blended smoothly into the carpet underneath, but the pale white skin of her arms and hands contrasted brightly.
Before her was a collection of photographs spread across the floor. The seeming disarray was actually organized by age group; Eve had decided to take on the task of organizing her memories one rainy Sunday afternoon. She’d seen herself through Kindergarden almost entirely. It was a time when her mother was eager to document Eve’s life in images, as if by looking at them she would be able to relive the past.
They each told a story, each took a moment from her life and screamed emotions, words, ideas and thoughts. One was of her holding her mother’s hand skipping through a park. It was a sunny day and Eve recalled a happy memory. They went to the park every Tuesday, but this particular photograph was taken on her brother’s birthday. She was afraid that the routine would be broken on his special day because he didn’t much like the park, but knowing how much she liked it, he insisted on it. One was of her and her brother pulling each other’s hair. She didn’t remember the day or that moment, but both faces still managed excited smiles, despite the ongoing fight.
Another - Eve was sitting quietly on the front porch steps of her family’s old house reading a Disney book. The book itself was not memorable, but she remembered that she loved that book to pieces - literally. It fell apart only a few years after she got it for Christmas. She couldn’t remember the day she was standing in front of her elementary school on the first day, but a photograph reminded her of her fearful facial expression and yearning for home.
She giggled at the photograph of her climbing a small hill in her Sunday dress. She was so young in the photo that she couldn’t remember the sights or smells, but she remembered feeling so accomplished on top of that hill. Sometimes she thought of returning and conquering the mountain once more, but she never went back. Another image she couldn’t quite recall - she just woke up, so she’s in her Mickey Mouse pajamas. Her arms were outstretched and her mouth wide. All mornings were slow for her, so she could imagine how she felt in that moment.
She smiled at all of them until her father reappeared. He’d been gone from her life for a great amount of time - from birth to five, and there he was again suddenly showing up. Did he belong in those photographs? Was it right?
In her hand on the floor one photograph was separate from the rest. Eve’s breathing was still irregular even in her sleep from the build up of emotions.
Here she was sitting in her father’s lap smiling as if it was the best day of her life. She remembered that day as the one when he told her he would never leave her again. The words quickly welled up under her eyes and she collapsed lost in the passing of time.
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Oh my, Michelle. You did a good job with this one. Though you have started my creative writing juices with this one. I may have to continue it, lol. Hmm…if I do you wanna read it?
Apr
'08
Great post! You have a gift for story=telling.
Apr
'08
Hev, no one has ever wanted to do that with one of my writings before! You’ll be my first fanfiction author.
I’d love to read it if you do it. 
Apr
'08
oh wow michelley. that was a very powerful piece of writing. you’ve stirred up all my emotions. i know i say it alot, but you really do have a gift!
Apr
'08
OK, I’ll get it printed out and then wrote out. Once I get it finished I will email it to you. All I am going to do is continue from where you left off.
Apr
'08
A lovely piece and a breath of fresh air after many other takes on thr pompt this week. I also took the short story approach - I’m pleased to see I’m not alone!
Apr
'08