The Extra Guest: A Titled Story

January 14, 2022January 13, 2022 / roughwighting / 111 Comments

Tina is The New Girl and, according to Thomas – The One to Watch. How she made it on The Guest List is anyone’s guess. Even though Every Note (Tina) Played on the cello is sweeter than summer, more revealing than The Light Through the Leaves, she’s the reason for all of the Anxious People at the wedding.

What makes her so frightening?

Unlike others, unlike everyone, actually, Tina has no Tiny Imperfections. She can never be Tina, Lost in a Crowd, because she’s too singular, too stunning, like The Last Fallen Star gracing Earth. Continue reading →

Fleet of Time

December 3, 2021December 2, 2021 / roughwighting / 141 Comments

“And I know, I must not waste it: this fragile gift of fleeting time for wonder, companionship and love,” Ray added.

Maria sat in stunned silence. He had just proposed to her, this man she’d met two months ago. This man who was nothing like her. Continue reading →

It Only Made Sense

September 17, 2021September 16, 2021 / roughwighting / 139 Comments

Sally finally made the phone call. She planned on answering Ben when he first asked. But that had been – oh dear – at Great Aunt Agatha’s 90^th birthday party five days ago. Continue reading →

Second-in-Line or Love?

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021 / roughwighting / 168 Comments

“Your brain is too polite, Martha,” my sister tells me over the phone.

“WHAT?” I’m annoyed with Janet anyway, just out of principle, but this is just too much. “What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

Janet chuckles, raising my ire even further. She’s older than me by three years and always acts like it. She’s the wiser one, the better one, the patronizing one. Continue reading →

What Are the Chances?

June 4, 2021June 3, 2021 / roughwighting / 110 Comments

I scrutinized the man under veiled eyes. My long dark eyelashes were one of my vanities, and in times like these they came in useful. (The Exit Door)

Since when did I follow a complete stranger ( I wondered – what’s an incomplete stranger?) out of a social setting where I knew at least half the participants, toward a “wonderful café” he suggested?

“George,” the blue-jeaned “complete” stranger said as if reading my mind. And no, I don’t do this often.” Continue reading →