Tethered Lashes
by Paula Ray
Corina's skin is a circus tent. Her red-striped peppermint scars are a reminder of Christmas and family traditions. The obedient poodles of her childhood dreams jumped through hoops of fire until they became bald and grotesque. Poor dears, now, they no longer yap. They sometimes run across the sawdust floor of her silence and scratch to go out. Actually, all the animals and freaks want to go out, including the clowns, but even they are caged by costumes and makeup.
Corina wears feathers and pretends she can fly. She bites a dangling rope and spins like a ceiling fan. Alfredo, the tight-rope walker, is the only one who has ever gotten close to her, while she's mid-air. Once, he touched her. He reached out his warm palm and caressed her leg. She slowed down and goose-bumps erupted on her surface, as if all the happy children inside of her released their balloons at once and applauded.
She smiled that day. A genuine, unrehearsed smile. And for a moment, she opened her eyes and gave him permission to see behind the scenes. He's been teetering on a thread ever since.
Corina wears feathers and pretends she can fly. She bites a dangling rope and spins like a ceiling fan. Alfredo, the tight-rope walker, is the only one who has ever gotten close to her, while she's mid-air. Once, he touched her. He reached out his warm palm and caressed her leg. She slowed down and goose-bumps erupted on her surface, as if all the happy children inside of her released their balloons at once and applauded.
She smiled that day. A genuine, unrehearsed smile. And for a moment, she opened her eyes and gave him permission to see behind the scenes. He's been teetering on a thread ever since.
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Author's Note
surreal look at the freaks we harbor within us and the beauty of connection.
currently pubbed at New Flesh - considering submitting this as a reprint elsewhere as well.
Other stories by Paula Ray
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That's nice, Paula--a real good read.
Man, this could be deconstructed and psychoanalyzed for days. It's all scary though, and hopeful as well. Very very imaginative journey for the reader. Nice.
Walks on grand lines of textures, and strong medicinal corridors that spills into my senses like a necessary tonic Paula.
Thanks.
I'm teetering with excitement over this one. Love your writing! Post more, Paula. Fav.
There is so much here that I like that, if I were to quote my favourite passages, I'd wind up quoting your entire story. A pleasure to meet you, Paula Ray. Fave!
Amazing how these metaphors just miss rational sense and make a better and more delightful and telling sense as you invent them. Amazing how carefully balanced is this prose on the skinny ledge of meaning(s) and how you keep it all under control. fave.