and when it rains, I’ll run for cover under the oldest house with the loudest roof
The ship sank deep when it came off the tracks of the waves.
Just days before, she’d climbed on board his shoulders when his smile offered itself as a safe platform to step onto. They’d danced along the floorboards, as the belly of his boat slithered through caterpillar mangroves, past houses with held in whispers that hung like crooked teeth on slopes. The sea seemed so lazy, so she took off her shoes and sank into his muscles. She looked up at the grey sky in their eyes, unalarmed and was pleased she could smell the rain approaching. His lips always tasted better through it. The coffee in her mug grew cold and bitter as he turned his back on her, so she stumbled over the piled up baggage in the aisle to see out the window on the other side what could be causing it. It looked like winter. The rain had slowed and frozen into snow. She wasn’t afraid. She always understood where autumn went and why it came back, but he never did. Turn back that is. She could see now that his fingers were webbed and he was breathing through gills. The wind rushed up her bare legs as she stood there in his striped shirt and her feet felt soggy. She looked down at her toes, willing them to be fins.
She should have known better than to board a boat of paper, but she loved the feeling of drowning too much.
Paul Louis Vil...
Wow! Too many superlatives come to mind as I wish to describe how I felt reading this.
In case I haven’t said it before… you’re an absolute gem! (...and so very talented too!) :D
Lisa Jewell
You tell it like no other…your oils are thick and your canvas layered with your heart after your heart.
Jess, the last lines – truly are stunning…..I felt submerged in that heady asphyxiated feeling…
XOXOX
Geoff Coleman...
I look at a ton of stuff on RB and elsewhere. Almost none of it touches me like your writing. No one can evoke the landscape of unrequited love like you Jessica – intense and visceral.
ltruskett
So delicious….........
Darryl A
Jess, I don’t know how you compress so much emotion into so little a space.
Beautiful work… you are very talented indeed.
mstrace
she should have known better then to board a boat of paper
the piece was beautiful, but this line spoke to me on a personal level…having boarded way too many paper boats in my time. as always, stunning.
jemimalovesbigted
I love the sound of the rain on an old tin roof… but I hate when they leak.
PJ Ryan
brilliant girl .. absolutely brilliant …
I suggest you make a hat with the paper and wear it when you’re drunk … or get that origami happening again. Or burn it.
xx
Jason Moses
Jessica, will you write songs for me? The title alone was fine, and our words are touching and engrossing as ever.
Jodi Webb
Wow Jess. I look forward to your writing and this is no exception. You always create such vivid scenes, and I felt like I was part of her – watching from the sidelines. I love what you create. Absolutely brilliant piece of writing.
shaktipat
‘His lips always tasted better through it.’ i wonder if they taste nearly as sweet as your delectable words.
MissKristy
Indeed JessieT…no-one writes like you. I’ve never felt such intoxicating depth and delicate dreaminess all at the same time..as when I read your words.
I particularly love
They’d danced along the floorboards, as the belly of his boat slithered through caterpillar mangroves
Oh what gorgeous imagery….I’m lost in it.
CateTownsend
Absolutely amazing
Lisa Jewell
Dearest Jess,
I forgot to mention. I LOVE the title of this piece….you start this on a perfect note and continue you into a full blown sonata….
xox
VelvetGirl
I love this and I echo Paul Louis comment. Too beautiful. xx
jomei249
Jess, you really come up with some gems, catepillar mangroves for instance. So imaginative, vivid and enjoyable to read. The enigmatic last line made me smile.
deliriousgirl
OH DAMN! This just absolutely melts me!!! This is so so so seriously fantastic that it makes me sob like a baby!!!
Angel Gold
Sigh… Sounds like sucha luxury. Beautifully written
berndt2
Brilliant…. amazingly crafted and evocative
yt sumner
Silly water, now I know whay I love you so…I wish I could breathe underwater and read this forever. xxx
natapee
that last line touches me very deeply. beautiful beautiful beautiful.
Trish Cooper
Amazing work Jess….simply amazing…....what a gift you have wow!!!!! Beautiful work!!! You are simply one of the best on this site!!!!!
Matthew Dalton
Hi Jessica, this piece is beautiful.
For me this piece is a Rosetta stone for your images that include water. It’s a wonderful nexus.
MichaelCouacaud
wonderful work
Paul Compton
Magic. Oh…...that last line….....oh. Simply marvelous writing Jessica : )
pAgEdOwN
Transforming & mesmerising. Takes me outside of my four walls and puts me right there.
Ange
wow this is beautiful jess.
Luke Downes
It kills me that women are so unafraid of drowning into someone, but it’s just that willingness to choke that gets me to fall in love with them.
awdigitaldreams
brilliant