Sunday, October 2, 2011

Phoenix Rising


I'm definitely running late for this week's Saturday Centus, but I think I have time to pound out a "Sunday Centus" quickly before conference starts. Jenny gave us 100 words plus the prompt today, and my busy schedule is thankful that she handed us a bit of a break for this go-round. As always, the prompt is in red.

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Phoenix Rising
©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

360-396-1221. After countless months waiting and wanting, wondering and worrying, up flashed the very numbers she had finally stopped hoping to see.

Michael.

Early on, she'd disconnected caller ID altogether. Why allow more than one of her senses to be violated by his repeated failure to call? The cancellation was a bust, though. Being greeted by the wrong voice felt every bit as devastating without the visual.

Eventually, she’d moved on. Phoenix rising and all that. But right now those ten digits looked like ashes, and Michael’s fire had burned her to the bone.

The phone sizzled in her hand. “The number you have reached is no longer in service,” she intoned.

Click.

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26 comments:

Gail said...

Wonderful...you write beautifully.

Viki said...

Yep, it was probably good she didn't speak to him. He broke her heart. Loved this take on the prompt.

Daydreamer said...

Awwww sad.. partings are always sad even when they are for our good. Nice use of the centus prompt.

Unknown said...

Way to end it!

Nonna Beach said...

Excellent Sue !

I was all ready for a poem and you changed it up beautifully and ended it with a fresh start for both of them...love it !

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Good for her! Great Centus. laurie @ Battling My Inner Critic

Brian Miller said...

mmm...yeah, sometimes best not to stir those ashes...not yet anyway...

hope you are having a great time watching your conference...

cj Schlottman said...

Ouch! This is heavy with anxiety and pain, I feel the poet in you in the words. You are amazing.

Namaste...........cj

Unknown said...

Great write & I love the picture!

Unknown said...

Wonderful! I love the ending!

Ames said...

Well that's one way to get rid of someone!:)~Ames

Dazee Dreamer said...

I love it when I can read something like this and see the picture in my head. Great job.

Judie said...

I have started to say that soooo many times!! I'm glad I'm not the only one. Brava, Sue!!!

karen said...

Ugh. Thud. My heart is sad. But also glad that she moved on.

anitamombanita said...

ouch! good job, sue!

Simple Home said...

Wow, I wasn't expecting that :) Excellent!
Blessings,
Marcia

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Good for her! It's like that last stage of grief when someone dies: acceptance.

You did a great job!

21 Wits said...

So glad you pounded this one out! I had a busy weekend too, and just now able to read through everyone's that I missed! Sad story you so lovely wrote...but Bravo for her being able to move on and find another working # !

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

awesome.

you rocked on this one.

Grandma Honey said...

Looks like Michael is a goner...
I think you should write a suspense novel, Sue!

Darlene said...

Great ending!

Caroline said...

Ha! I LOVE it! And bravo to her! I can think of one instance in my life when I wish I was as clever as she!

I really love the way you write, Sue. Might we ever see a novel written by you? Do you have any interest in that, I am curious. I think you would write a fabulous novel.

Amy said...

These are so sad and I LOVE the ending. Lovely.

Unknown said...

Dear Sue,
Thank you for visiting and commenting on my post, which thankfully is mostly fictional.

Good use of the prompt. I was expecting to find a poem here, but this is a powerful story about taking control of your life.
Well done!
Best wishes,
Anna
For the benefit of other readers:
Anna's SC Wk 74 'A buyer's nightmare'

Anonymous said...

Time to move on! A difficult but wise decision, I guess.
Nice twist to the tale.

Jenny said...

Love it! I hope he kinda/sorta knew it wasn't a recording.

Payback is a b...okay...well payback isn't too fun!