prompt 1: fragments

[Clinton Litchfield]

a series of messages from a series of individuals; a single snapshot into each of their lives—past, present, future…or perhaps a mere glimpse into an alternate universe. it is for the reader to decide.

for charley
july 1950 [x]
falling from västerbron bridge, riddarfjärden

[Ella Galanis]

for arlo
march 1956 [x]
sinking into the lake at hogwarts

Arlo,

Somewhere out there, in another time and another place, I like to think we’re growing old together.

Ella

[Isla Haywood-Lowe]

for deimos
june 1959 [x]
by a bloodied cloth
on the edge of the bathroom sink

you asked, if I keep doing this, are you gonna leave me?

my answer: yes.

[Jeremiah Smallweed]

for cecelia
august 1961 [x]
lost to the river seine

FADE IN

PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETERY, PARIS - VERY LATE OR VERY EARLY

A man (late twenties), JEREMIAH, and a woman (same age), CECELIA, are standing in front of OSCAR WILDE’s grave. CECELIA leaves a kiss the colour of crushed berries just above the ‘C’ of ‘OSCAR’. She steps back and looks at JEREMIAH.

CECELIA

What do I get? Since I found him first?

JEREMIAH

If it was up to me, then I’d say you deserve a proposal right here in Père Lachaise, in front of Oscar Wilde’s grave, from your first and last love.

CECELIA inhales a sharp breath.

JEREMIAH

But Oscar over here, he’d say we should always be in love and that’s the reason we shouldn’t get married. And he’d say the thing about marriage is it means a life of deception. And—

JEREMIAH looks at CECELIA.  There is something bright and brittle in his gaze.

JEREMIAH

—we already promised no more lies, Cee, so we can’t do that.

CECELIA exhales. She is numb to his words and the world. JEREMIAH hesitates. It isn’t often that his dead poets get things wrong. It isn’t often than he gets things right. She is a risk worth taking, though. Always has been. So even though they promised no more lies, and even though they can’t—

JEREMIAH

Marry me.

[Finlay Bramston]

for theresa
may 1962 [x]
dropped into a gutter
washed away with the rain

Mum,

Wish you’d tried a bit harder.

Wish you’d tried at all.

—

[Addie Ross]

for derek, for noah, for silas
july 1962 [x] [x]
drowning in the river thames

things I should have said:

—no.

[Vega Nettlebed]

for avery
october 1963 [x]
a sprig of pressed rue
released into the amazon river
there are no words; there rarely are, with them.

[Cyrus Galanis]

for roo
september 1965 [x]
on top of a pile of adoption papers
beneath a glass of water on his son’s bedside table

It’s about time we made things official, don’t you think.

[Calypso Ross]

for jackson
october 1976 [x]
thirty years to the day
left by the kitchen sink
accompanied by her wedding ring

Jacks,

You deserved better than I ever gave you.

And if Francesca Lancaster’s still single—then I think you should take that as a sign.

Caly

[Tawnie Smallweed]

for tawnie
whenever she needs it
& wherever she needs it

fin.