That smell - 100 Words, plus 106.

I've heard that smell is one of the strongest sense triggers of memories. I scoffed at the idea of this. How in the world could smell trigger memories? Memories are visions. I remember distinctly the color of the sky on that day in '77 when the world turned green during that storm, but I don't remember the smell of the rain. I remember the sunlight bouncing off my brother's hair as we played in the pool on hot summer days in '84, but I don't remember the smell of the chlorine. I remember the look on my best friend's face when she told me in '01 that she was pregnant but I don't remember the smell of the lunch we were eating. Tonight, science was proved right: the smells trigger the memories, the memories don't trigger phantom smells.

I buried my nose in his neck for the first time in 20 years this evening and I was instantly 19 again. He smelled exactly the same and the sweetness of the memories that flooded through me brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to stay there, in his arms, in a public parking lot no less, for hours and just breathe him in.

Christ, I've missed him.

Glad.

i never thought i'd be the type of person to wish so strongly for a divorce to be final, for it to be over already so i can revel in the freedom. i never thought i'd be the type of person who would wish that type of pain on anyone. a part of me is appalled that i feel that way but the bigger part of me is so fucking relieved it's happening. i'm glad the marriage is over. i'm glad.

maybe that makes me a bad person.

i can't block it out, though. i keep thinking, 'finally'.

fucking finally.

Depth -- 100 Words

This week's word prompt from Velvet Verbosity is Depth. Here's my submission:

She Will Be Her Own Hero

She is out of money, out of time, out of her depth, and most certainly out of character. How do people do this? How do they start over and mean it?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, she's learned.

After what seems a lifetime of uncertainty, the slippery slope that was leading her towards the dark unknown has begun to provide a bit of traction for her well-worn shoes. Maybe, by moving determinedly, just maybe she'll gain a bit of a foothold in this new beginning. She wants to control her destiny. She has no faith in fate. Not anymore.

Perfectionism - 100 Words

This week's 100 Words prompt is perfectionism. I have opted to use perfection instead. Here goes:

Mostly unobtainable, except...

While human beings always strive for perfection, it is rarely obtainable – no matter how hard we try. But every once in a while, something special comes along to challenge the status-quo. We are gathered here in witness to - and in celebration of - one such example of near-perfection. They started out with next to nothing and built an empire of family out of their astonishing love and blind faith in each other. They are my ideal of obtainable perfection, and I strive to learn from their example. So, to Mom and Dad and their 45 years together. Cheers!

Chasm - 100 Words

Finally! After a bit of a hiatus, I have a 100 Words entry. Here's my entry for the prompt 'chasm':

Starting on His Bucket List

Fourteen days ago, he decided to sell as many of his belongings as possible, to donate what was left, and to hit the road. The thrilling part of this whole thing, to him anyway, is that he has no idea where he is going yet. He will let a map of the Americas and a dart be his guide. He isn't picky, he just wants to experience everything he can on this, his Best Adventure. And if it just so happens that his route takes him over a chasm or two...well, he might finally try his hand at base jumping.

Voice - 100 Words

This week's 100 Words prompt is voice. Here's my submission:

Sunday

She calls him every Sunday.

She tells him how the kids are doing, about her job, about the people she saw. The way she starts sentences with did you know... twists the knife that is the colossal mistake of his life (what a mess) that much more.

She doesn't come right out and say that they miss him. More than likely, she wants to throttle him and will likely want to for the rest of their lives. He can deal with that.

As long as she doesn't leave him.

And as long as he can hear her voice every Sunday.

Sleek and Sharp

This week's 100 word challenge prompt is sleek. Here's my contribution:

Sleek and Sharp

It began when he muttered that cursed sentence, 'We need to talk.'

The resulting pain is relentless, sleek, and sharp. It has settled in the pit of my stomach, has branched up into my chest and squeezes my heart with every breath. Pain chases my blood around my veins until it is all I know. I am crippled by this invisible force and I hate it. I rail at it and want it gone but know it will own me until the acceptance settles in.

His name used to by my joy. It is now my lament and my penance.

Ample Optimism

Second submission for Velvet Verbosity's 100 Words! It's been a bit crazy around here so I missed a couple of weeks.

Ample Optimism

Right now she has food to eat and a roof over her head . She tries not to worry about what she doesn't have and budgets what she does have mercilessly. The rest will fall into place once her job, her career, is found. Then, the stress over money and making ends meet will abate. The worries about keeping her house will cease. She'll finally be able to replace that screwed up drainage pipe. Unemployment is tough and the worry of it all is wreaking havoc on her health.

Soon, though, there will be ample resources for joy.

She hopes.

Obsession

Velvet Verbosity's 100 word challenge for this week revolves around the word Obsession. And I happen to have one. I claim it, I own it, for better or worse, wholeheartedly. Cold wintery weather has me seeking out indoor hobbies. It's my own damn fault for letting my hobby tip towards Obsession...

Frontiers

The Obsession (yes, it warrants a capitol “O”) was not something I planned. I stumbled upon a website one day which captured my imagination. That, in turn, lead to web searches, which lead to all of my free time being spent in front of my computer. I found suppliers for my Obsession and I follow (devour) their every word. I eat some meals in front of this computer. I think about sitting down and writing my own 'Kirk and Spock' Fan Fiction, but am afraid taking my Obsession that far will be the straw that breaks my boyfriend's back.