When my room began to fill with smoke, I turned the music up. Ian Curtis should always be louder than a smoke alarm. It was then Sasha told me that I was killing myself but I countered by saying, if it were the end of the world we'd have no choice but to grab each other and make love, one last time. “What about…” she said nodded her head toward the first floor, "I don't know what to do."
Sasha and I had snorted a table of cocaine and I had her trapped inside my Joy Division bedroom. We were upstairs in our pajamas for two days. The record played over and over, the same way life tended to work repetitively for me. Sometimes when I reached the end of the grooves, I scratched my way against the hard bad sounding endpoint.
I didn't want her to leave. There was two feet of snow, huge snow banks, plus the last time I went outside I noticed multiple towers stained with ugly yellow dog piss. I realized how much dogs peed and that so many basic day-to-day realities were hidden.
“It's all o-kaaaay. I'm cooook-ing,” Lance called up from the kitchen. Most days, when he wasn't piddling around, he was busy with Sasha planning their wedding. “I'm not hungry,” she said softly.
In a few months I'll be forced to leave this room but when the girl lifted the needle, flicked the dust off and restarted Unknown Pleasures, I knew I still had some life left.
6
favs |
1284 views
14 comments |
273 words
All rights reserved. |
The author has not attached a note to this story.
I really like the dark tone in this flash. The relatable characters, the hinted- at hardships of three way love or passion. I LOVE IAN CURTIS and all things Joy Division and it seems like that band is the perfect backdrop for the entire piece. The last line is bleak: pitch perfect. A fave.
How do I make this private but still have one/some/all of my groups be able to see it?
Thanks, Robert!
Definite favorite. I also like the last line, the resignation of it.
Sweet! Thanks, James.
Very real-seeming. *
Thanks Quenby!
I like the voice, Tim - "I didn't want her to leave. There was two feet of snow, huge snow banks, plus the last time I went outside I noticed multiple towers stained with ugly yellow dog piss. I realized how much dogs peed and that so many basic day-to-day realities were hidden."
You can't make a piece private on the main wall, Tim. That's for public viewing - even from people outside Fictionaut. You can have others view a work marked private only in private writing groups here. And there are many.
Thanks, Sam!
This is a fabulous story. The ending is awesome.
love this...an ode to vinyl in its own way! Joy Division, cocaine and the repetitive motion of a tone arm and the urgent needle sound when its time to flip the record all feed together to frame emotional space just right.
Thanks Jeffrey and Doug!
My Joy Division Bedroom. Great. Funny and addicting. More, please.
Shelagh,
Thanks for reading and commenting on this! Cape Cod=small world!