[T]here is nothing behind the wall
except a space where the wind whistles…
–from “Drawings By Children” by Lisel Mueller
I’m floating in aquamarine dialed to an optimal degree. My breasts point to the sky. Bubbles tickle my back. I flap my arms like humpback flippers and hum low, sending a message to my lover. Please hear me.
My feet paddle towards a ladder.
Wrinkled fingers and toes climb to a dry platform with cushioned hammock. A filter’s soft thrum pulls me to dreams. There I run and laugh, being chased through a flowered field by dear Robert. The dream always ends with Sol pulling our flailing bodies up and up. I always wake here, alone.
There is nothing behind the wall except a space where the wind whistles between it and other honeycombed tanks as far as an AI drone’s eye can see.
A compartment opens, where a smelly glop awaits. I look up to my new sun, the red pulsing observation globe.
[144 words]
Merril is today’s host of dVerse‘ Prosery. Merril says:
Write a piece of flash fiction or other prose of up to or exactly 144 words, including the given line.
Love how you took the glitz out from space travel… I can just imagine how you dream about life back on earth if you are forced to live under such condition.
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Wonderful comment, insightful as always.
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I enjoyed your sci-fi, Lisa, and the opening paragraph is a real hook! The final paragraphs are so ominous I smelled that glop.
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Thank you, Kim!
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What an adventure you took us on! I wasn’t expecting that at all!
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Thank you, Merril!
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You’re welcome!
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I read this as a future where we all have deprivation tanks, and this piece details the sadness and isolation that comes from too much leisure time; where each person lives alone, except in June when everyone procreates. Loved the Leon Russell accompaniment.
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I like the way you read this, Glenn. COVID isolation for practice doesn’t help matters. Glad you like the Leon Russell 🙂
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Chilling sci-fi setting Lisa. I feel the weight of the unknown here.
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Thank you, Linda.
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Oh (sigh) this doesn’t look to be headed for a happy ending! Good write.
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Thank you, Beverly. Maybe one day she will realize it was all a bad dream…
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WOW what a sun. Luv the sun imagery
Happy Monday
Much💗love
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Many thanks, Gillena!
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Yes, yes, yes! Sci-fi! 😀 I’m psyched.
I love the ending, it is almost ambiguous. Definitely solemn in the midst of light, and extremely isolating in this destination they are in. A fantastic piece of prose, Lisa. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
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🙂 Thanks, Lucy!
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So easy to imagine the grief of loss through your words, loss of love and all that was known. Beautifully written as always, Lisa.
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❤ ❤ ❤ Yes. Thank you, Dora.
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You’re welcome!
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Oh I loves me that Glop, Sister; and your opening paragraph floated me right into one really cool work. Thanks.
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Ha ha! Thanks, Ron!
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Wowza! This took me to another world, Lisa! An out-of-this-world adventure.
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🙂 Thank you, Eugi!
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My pleasure, Lisa!
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Oh dear Lisa, you’re in trouble. The singularity gas been reached, and the machines don’t seem friendly. I love Leon’s Carney album, especially… https://youtu.be/d2Z9qN8R9Bg
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Thanks much for your comment, Rob. I love that one also!!!!! Leon is a Natural-Born poet.
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Love this sci-fi tale, Lisa 😀 it’s so very compelling and tastes tenderly of dystopia. The image of the “the red pulsing observation globe,” speaks volumes. 💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa! I do feel electronics has become our new god, for good or ill 😦
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Is she an AI? Do AIs dream? Honeycombed tanks and smelly glop and that last line… I love sci-fi. More please.
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I think she’s human. She’s been abducted and imprisoned in a habitat. Glad you liked it, Debi 🙂
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An interesting mind trip dreaming but finding nothing but the wind in reality!
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😦 yes. All she has left of normalcy are her dreams.
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Very nice!!
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Oy, poor soul. Yeah, I’m very partial to this Earth. Planning on sticking around it as long as I can. 😉
Well done! The doom and gloom sure clashed with the rich loveliness of the dream …
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Thanks for reading and your comment.
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🙂 Sure! And …. I like your spin on it (pun and all?) 😉
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🙂
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Very fascinating story
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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Intriguing unfolding story, each image undoes the next in a wonderful surreal dream – I keep wanting to stop and ask – ‘why by the feet’?; who’s Robert? where the roses? – but the story presses on. This has all the claustrophobia and breathless desperation I imagine interstellar travellers will feel as they journey to their new star.
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Many thanks for your comment, Peter.
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In isolation we create worlds to fill the emptiness…I suspect the walls between “real” and “imaginary” are quite porous in this one. (K)
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Yes we do, K. Your suspicions are correct.
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I love how you brought us from a poolside adventure to another world – and in so few words! Have you written much sci fi? I would love to read more!
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Thanks, Ingrid! I’ve written flash fiction of all genres.
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Quite a story in so few words! I felt pretty good at the beginning but then you leave me with “the red pulsing observation globe.” We are not in Kansas anymore! Fun read!
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Thank you, Tricia!
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The dream is so real, the situation of waking so real, and the awful full reality so convincing. Glop is the only word.
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Thank you, Jane!
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I always wake here, alone.
The unexpected seems to be waiting to burst out and it could have led to a bad dream. It is always a good thing to wake up before being overwhelmed with cold sweat. Great imagery, Jade!
Hank
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Thank you for reading and your comment.
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This one is cool…you may think of writing what happens when they get out…what they see. I like the visual.
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Thank you, I like this story and may write more on it.
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Excellent imagery and use of the prompt. Wonderful story line. 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Love how you bring us along and then surprise us with the sci-fi aspect Wonderfully written, Lisa.
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Many thanks, Dale!
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🙂
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