He sketched Her (flash fiction)

On By Michele LeeIn Dreams, flash fiction, Poetic Prose

His sketchbook held thirty-six sketches of the moon, full, and thirty-three sketches of her, a woman unknown. This night would make it sketch thirty-seven since he began drawing curves, just of the moon at first, then of her. His hand sketched her as fast as his mind created her. She arrived during a night when the moon was bold, when it blended stolen breath with brilliant gold, casting a perfect soft light across his paper canvas. With a soft lead and an artist’s touch, from his imagination, she was born.   

His late-night sketching began over three years prior, during a night of restless dreams. He could not tear down the walls that trapped his thoughts, so he grabbed his sketch pad, and tore through the front door. He would have noticed the November chill, if his caged mind had not spun his body into a spiraling inferno. With his bare back offering its heat to a tree and his eyes searching the heavens, he drew his first full moon sketch.  

He returned the next month when the moon, once again, revealed its full identity. He continued to come back, month after month, each time carrying his sketch book. Contained within were thirty-seven pages that had silently witnessed his hauntings, his rages, his longings, and his rusted cages. Thirty-seven fool moons dancing with thirty-three stories of her. No longer just one sketch; he was creating a complex character existing in a mystical scene. His midnight monthly ritual was making the rest of his life bearable.

He was trying to erase the presence of time, while leaning against a tree. He was escaping to a world where he could control its destiny, while capturing the moon’s mystery. Even if the moon hid itself behind a cloud when he arrived, his imagination filled in the invisible details, often better than the original.

Then it happened; fate sketched the next page. From his notebook, a loose page did slip. He, being an exhausted late-night artist, failed to notice. Sketch thirty-three blew in the twilight wind, twirling and spinning before tumbling into a sloshy pile of mud. For two nights and one and a half days the penciled maiden, curved in all her glory, baked. When the sun did shine its midday rays, the crusty little sketch was rescued by a woman, walking alone, during her lunch break. A woman who had no idea that her life was about to change…

Episode Two coming soon.

Last night, after writing “sloshy pile of mud,” my writer brain began to conjure up several sarcastic story turns. That’s when I knew it was time for a pause. I decided to save my sarcasm for another cause and chop broccoli instead. 🥦 Episode Two will be up soon, in my bloggy cue. 🌚 Enjoy the tune! 🎶

Thank you for visiting and reading! Be well. 💗 Michele

Photo 1: by Vitalii Bashkatov Photo 2: my moon shot, well not my moon shot, but that full moon in the sky

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

101 thoughts on “He sketched Her (flash fiction)”

    1. Writing and creating are too fun! 💖🌳 A little mystery thrown in – even better! 😁 Thanks so much, Jeff, for appreciating and for the weekend wishes. 🙏🏻 You too! Your part of the country is feeling some winter woes, right?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Ah, yes, they are! 💖🌳 Mystery is always better. 😁 You’re most welcome, Michele. Always. Thank you! Ah, actually the weather has settled down a bit up here. Over the holiday it was as little woeful. 😅

        Liked by 1 person

  17. A beautiful and talented Author’s imagination story , marvellous dear 🌷🙏👍🏻 like a unknown man in his solitude
    the beauty of the full moon he so many sketches made and he created his mind a lady and sketches her also , precious 👍🏻♥️ I enjoyed the beauty of this story, the wonderful nature photography and the poem lines with sweet voice , great 👏 Best wishes dear friend 🌷🙏♥️🌷

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  32. Oh my gosh, what a magical story from the confines of a sketchbook. 👩🏼‍🎨✍🏼👨🏼‍🎨 So, I wonder if this mystery woman who finds that wayward sketch is the person whose image is sketched on that paper? Hmmm….inquiry minds want to know. Can’t wait for Episode 2! 🤗💞😘 Thanks for a sweet story Michele my Belle! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Kymbelina! It felt a magical write. ✨ Love when that happens, which happy me, is frequently. 😊 We shall see what transpires under the mystical magical moon. 🌚 I am grateful for your interest. 🙏🏻

      Liked by 1 person

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  37. Pingback: Suspended Existence (flash fiction w/audio) – My Inspired Life

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