He first saw her in the middle of the city and he knew at once that she was the one. A dreamy girl with a sweet smile, eyes meeting his just as she disappeared into the crowds. He searched for her in vain. He was late for university that day.
He saw her again over the years. In the aisle of a bookshop. Across a crowded bar. Each time he tried to speak to her, but she merely smiled and glided away. Once he followed her through the streets, entranced by her long, shimmering hair and slender figure, but he lost her again. He went back to his apartment and stared at his desk.
He tried to forget her. He tried to lead a regular life. The office was enough he told himself, the car, the mortgage, the girlfriends who drifted in and out of his life. But it wasn’t. He’d seen her and she had his heart forever.
Success took a long time. He was a middle-aged man by the time his novel was released. Those years had been well spent. The critics and reviews were glowing. The publishers played on his image as a lonely, sensitive soul. Who was the inspiration behind his female character? The writer played along with the mystery.
But then he saw her at the last book signing, beside the line of curious, excited fans. When the signing was over, he slipped away and ran outside.
And there she was, not a day older than when he had first seen her.
He reached out but she shook her head.
“You know how I feel,” he said, “You were the only one.”
Her eyes were sad, “Haven’t I given you everything you wanted?”
“I want you.”
“I am not of your world,” his muse kissed him softly on the lips. Then she faded into thin air. The writer was all alone, his heart aching from a love that had tormented him his whole life, a love which nothing on this earth could ever come near.
An exercise in micro-fiction – stories which run from zero to fifty
did you miss “zero”? click here!
© 2014 M. C. Dulac
17 responses to “1. Muse”
Bootiful 🙂
Awww thank you! It was a bit down to the wire this week. I had another one for “1.” but it just wasn’t good enough to put on the blog! Luckily this came from somewhere (maybe my muse!)
Loved it and I loved the ending very much! It reminds of a movie scene, spiced with that perfect enchanting little piece of prose that you might heard before but you secretly look for it again and again in a piece or a story 🙂
Thank you Oloriel! You made my day 🙂
Wonderful as usual. And I found the “one” – such a fun concept.
Thanks Jennifer! These new stories seem to be bringing out my most serious side!
I do believe that once you have the writing bug, you never forget it. It will follow you for years until you give in and start writing.
It suited the story that the writer was male and the muse was a girl. I wonder if my muse is a guy…! 🙂
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A beautiful, heartbreaking love story. I like how you carry over the years in so little words. I really like the dialogue – it just breathes fire into the characters.
Thank you! As you said in your description of flash fiction, it forces you to really refine down those words!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
Love it MC! The muse comes to life, how awesome 😀
Yes, he not only has the writing bug, but he has also fallen in love with his muse! Glad you enjoyed it!
I think my muse is a bit pushy.
LOL 😀
I think mine has gone to sleep!!
I like the concept of micro fiction – had never heard of it before. You had me with this one – from start to finish. Well done.
Thanks heaps – the call of the muse is something all writers know about!
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