seduction

Jo, who authors Reclaiming Creativity at reclaiming.substack.com, has given me permission to use her beautiful watercolors as writing prompts. The moment I saw this gentleman with his red umbrella, I knew I had to give him a purposeless story. He deserved one.

SCENE: Think film noir. Crime jazz playing. Night. Rain. City lights. A heavy, low voice belonging to a mafia king narrates. You know the scene. Hit play.

Narrator: Guy Dixon was blocks from his apartment now. He left mid-fight. It was touch and go, but the go won. LED lights flashed from the signs of cafes and night clubs and hotels. His mind was too distracted to be seduced just yet, so he kept walking and playing it over in his head. All of it.

My suspicions began two years ago during that dinner party. I knew you sounded different. You’re a terrible liar. But I didn’t want to believe it. The signs were there. They were all there. But I ignored them. Why did I ignore them? I knew you’d never change. It was all a ruse. God damn it, Viv! You had me a fool! In love with Joe this whole time. How could you? Did you ever mean it? Did you ever mean it when you said you loved me? No. No, of course not. You couldn’t love us both. There was only room for one in your heart.

Narrator: The rain grew colder and harder, just like Dixon’s heart.

Look at this couple. Holding hands, like it means something. Run, guy. She doesn’t love you. She never can and she never will. She’ll always be dreaming of somebody else. There’s always somebody else. There’s signs. There’s always signs. Don’t ignore them, guy. Don’t ignore them! But you will. Just like I did. See, Viv! This is what I’ve become!

Narrator: There was a man with a cane walking away from the North Star Hotel & Bar — his trench coat, drenched. Only two kinds of people enter the North Star: the lonely and the loved. Dixon made his way to the entrance. More characters stumbled out in a drunken dance. The laughter from the crowd inside was like a punch to his gut.

I need a drink.

Narrator: Guy Dixon closed his umbrella and walked in. He had finally been seduced and was in for a long night.

***

Follow Jo as she continues to grow and reclaim her creativity ⬇⬇

reclaiming.substack.com

Originally published at https://woodsrawr.substack.com.