In a flash ““ in a brief, starlet moment ““ under the lights and sound, they were brilliant: they were the debonair and the beautiful, and for every moment from that time forward, we loved them.
We watched with eyes ablaze as they danced for us. They were graceful as they swayed through the darkness ““ the lights following them like some love-sick boy on the playground chasing after his new-found girl. But it was strangely sensuous how they moved, never touching one another but always close. I wanted to be them; I wanted to feel the energy that they embodied. There was an energy that came from them that I wanted to harness and take as my own and be so much a part of. I was enamored of them, and I wanted them to love me, too.
All of us gathered together, huddled close as though we were protecting ourselves from the cold; and we watched. We could not touch them; they were to us too delicate. I felt a hand on my arm, but I did not look to see who it was there beside me. They held fast to me, and I protected them in some way as we stared, mesmerized by the dancing and the lithe movements ““ and the brilliance.
“Dance,” I whispered. It had only meant to be in my head. There were gasps all around me, and I felt the fool for my outward jubilance.There was no retribution, but I kept reign of my tongue.
Then in a flash ““ in a second that I wanted to last forever ““ those two atoms were four.
“Dance,” I said.
And they did ““ just for me.
James Boone Dryden is currently the Managing Editor of Sheer Speculation Press and Staffs & Starships magazine.
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15 Responses to “IN A FLASH • by James Boone Dryden”
Comments
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September 7th, 2007 at 3:25 am
What a lovely flash! I was intrigued by the dancing pair, wondering who they were. The discovery that they were atoms was unexpected yet very satisfying, and I really enjoyed the portrait of this scientist who sees particless dancing and is embarassed to say so in front of his colleagues but then blurts it out. Great choice!
Tania
September 7th, 2007 at 5:28 am
Boone, that was a really beautiful one. Thanks!
- Firle
September 7th, 2007 at 5:49 am
A scientist serenading splitting of atoms! What a wonderful example of superbly written flash fiction!
September 7th, 2007 at 6:14 am
A remarkably well-told story. Hope to see more.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Really lovely!
September 7th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Beautiful. I really enjoyed this one.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:03 am
A graceful, well-written piece where the art of dance meets the “art” of science. Beauty and magnificence is truly all around us. Well done!
September 7th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Very nice, Boone. It has a Haiku quality to it that I liked very much. A pleasant savory morsel of something one hasn’t tasted in a very long time.
September 7th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Poetic and enjoyable
September 7th, 2007 at 11:49 am
This is how I feel about fiction. I want the words to dance, and when they do, as they do here, I’m entranced.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
“Flash,” I whispered.
And he did.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
There’s a beautiful idea here, and the writing has flashes of poetry. The concept of it being atoms dancing dawns on us slowly, which I love.
September 8th, 2007 at 7:13 am
This was probably my favorite story I have read thus far on this site.
Beautiful and surprising.
September 8th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Very poetic and evocative. Unexpected revelation. Nicely done. Lyn from ResAliens
September 17th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
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