erotic depression

a peep-hole look into sensual decay

Little bronzed studs. Tarnished. They pinched the vinyl so tight that it puffed out in brown whorls: like mortified flowers, from one end of the seat to the other. I thought to myself how much they looked like tiny belly-buttons, and I put my finger gently to them. Each one. But they were neither warm nor cold, and that startled me... The floor was brown, too, but patchy. Its veneer had been peeled away, and the rocking of the carriage caused the raw thinning to twitch. It reminded me of an animal I once watched die. The same dapples and fading legs lay pressed into the wood here. While the rest of its better days were dragged off on the bottom of too many shoes.

"You feel it too, don't you? The way it's all coming apart."
I almost missed her voice when it came. Low, husky, like smoke from a tired fire. I looked up. She was in the seat across the aisle, her face half shadowed by a tilted hat, her eyes dulled like the studs I'd touched. Thin shoulders, fingers folded in a woolen scarf held at her lap. She rocked with the cadence of the carriage. Though, her outline against the window trembled like a shadow in water: frayed, and uncertain.

I wanted to speak, to ask what she meant, but my words were a heavy stone, and they sank in her gaze. Calmly, she turned her head back toward the front of the train. Rocking. Her lips began to part as though to speak again, but there arose a low groan only, from the undercarriage. It curlled in a wide arc, like iron weeping, as my finger back-tracked the lidded constellation of lanterns dimmed.

Author's Note

spelling error intentional

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Dear Lara. I liked the place, I liked the thoughts and I liked the questions. I like watching people. Each of us have secrets. The silence people are the most interesting. You create character and interesting situation. Thank you for sharing the amazing story.
Coyote

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Quite beautiful
Mysterious
I need to re read and re read

[Pete]

interesting. what a great piece of writing. the imagery is dark, odd and uneasy. feels like a scene from the twilight zone. much enjoyed.

[DESSI]

hi lara from begin to end this reminds me of days when I was a tiny girl at grandma's Her couch cover thick, brown, pulled tight with those tarnished studs holding it all together One does wonder what happens when they start giving way ...much like society today well done ...Dessi

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous work. Powerful imagery.