Miner #03
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| Miner 3, by Camion 5 |
Miner #03
What he would not forget, after he had left the hospital where she lay, still in her sweatshirt and long underwear and coveralls, on an emergency room cart, was that there was nothing to suggest she was dead.
All he could see was a trickle of blood from her left temple.
Her face, like all coal miners' faces, was black with coal. But her hands had been covered with gloves. So, as she lay on the hospital cart, the gloves removed, her hands were as white as snow.
Sparkles danced before his eyes, pinwheeling across his vision. He felt as if he had swallowed the moon.
It hurt. Hurt like Hell. He thought he might burst, or melt, whichever came first.
The dancing lights grew brighter. Maybe he would die right there on the spot, rather than live another moment without her.
He heard her voice say to him, "You cannot pluck moonlight to bring in your pocket!"
Of course, she was right, just like she usually was.
He drew a deep breath, deeper than he ever had before, took the offered pen with the coal company logo on it, and signed the paper on the lawyer's clipboard.
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Prosery prompted by those moonlit with madness over at DVerse Poets.
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This piece of prose contains the line
"You cannot pluck moonlight to bring in your pocket!"
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Wow! Heart-breaking and moving. The swallowing of the moon has to be the best description of loss I've ever read. A powerful piece. Thanks for joining in.
ReplyDeletedevastating to consider she is dead, especially when she looks alive
ReplyDeleteDevastating! That last line was a gut-punch for me! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteOh, so very sad! Well done
ReplyDeleteAmazing how many completely different responses there were to this prompt. Yours was very original!
ReplyDeleteHeart-breaking tale, well told!
ReplyDeleteThe scenery is so totally different from all the other stories love it.
ReplyDeleteA stunning piece of prose, Chris! The description of her white hands is touching and I like the way you describe your character’s emotions in ‘He thought he might burst, or melt, whichever came first’.
ReplyDelete