X is for X-PIRANDO
Welcome to Day 24 of the Third Annual A to Z Challenge!
My theme – my 26 fiction posts will revolve around something musical – it could be anything, as long as it's musically-related… maybe a song title, an artist/band, musical terminology, musical instruments, words relating to sound/rhythm/movement/dance etc.
MUSICAL ASSOCIATION/CONNECTION. ESPIRANDO – (Italian) breathing out, expiring, dying away…
My X-post is in keeping with the theme of freedom, in celebration of Freedom Day which we celebrate today 27 April.
Prisoner X lay motionless on the hard, cold surface.
The whip bore down viciously, delivering a series of blows to the torn, bloody frame.
His lips, swollen and bloodied, twitched as he muttered incoherently, over and over, like a mantra… they can break my body but not my mind… not my mind…
As his broken body jerked involuntarily in the throes of death, his spirit lifted and began to rise. He could feel himself floating, weightless, fading, dissolving into nothingness…
The blessed state of oblivion loomed, closing in on him. His last exhilirating thought before he embraced it was ~ freedom at last!
* * * * * * * *
GENRE: FICTION
Wow, That is amazing. You just said so much there, in so few words.
-Debbie
Thanks Debbie!
I didn't know it was Freedom Day. This was a powerful post Michelle.
Very powerful. These are difficult subjects to write about but we must.
Never forget.
Yes, we must speak out, no matter how difficult it is… it aids the healing process…
Another new word for me, found on your blog. I like the way this one sounds as I say it aloud.
Happy Freedom day!
X-pirando rolls off the tongue quite smoothly… yes, I see what you mean… and has an aural appeal too…
Oh my goodness! This was compelling! Haunting! I am captivated by your writing. And I love knowing there is a Freedom Day. Will never forget it! *waving*
I'm thrilled that you are captivated by my writing! It inspires me… 🙂 *waves back*
Yes, my country celebrates a Freedom Day . It started in 1994 when we held our very first democratic election… we are still a teenage democracy and you know how teenagers are?
Dark and haunting and beautifully-written. Which I think it your OTHER theme during this challenge.
Glad you enjoyed the piece. It does seem like a thread of darkness runs through some of my A to Z posts…
Hauntng imagery . An entire story in so few words. Is this part of a wip? Had to look up Freedom Day, always something new to learn about the history of our world. Thanks
p.s.
and Thanks for all the comments on my haiku. I'm never sure if 'reply' actually gets back to a commenter. So. The sunset was shot on way home from work one night -love sunrises and sunsets. The Xerispheric pepper was shot with iphone on zoom – its last year's pepper that is determined to live in spite of my inattention and felt it an appropriate star for this piece.
This is beautifully written. Powerful images packed a whallop; all wrapped up in an X.
Thanks for the kind and positive comment, Julie… short posts can be quite powerful… as they say "less is more"…
No, it's not part of a wip. It's just a piece of flash fiction… gotta love the pepper's fiery spirit (no pun intended) LOL!
Short, but so very powerful. And not only did you work in your musical term, but a nod to Freedom Day. Great work!
Brevity can relay volumes… and the X-post has been the most difficult one, because of the shortage of x-words to choose from… so I decided to keep it short and to the point!
Powerful post in a few words.
Short and slamming!
What a moment! I got chills and teared up at the transition from pain to bliss.
Wow, I never knew that my writing can have that effect on a reader… 🙂 you have made my day!
Poignant and powerful. I'm glad you decided to do this challenge 🙂
As a writer-in-the-making, I've learnt a lot and discovered new things about myself through the A to Z challenge. I'm glad that I decided to take a chance on the themed fiction posts… even though it was nerve-wracking at times… 🙂
I thought of using this word too but couldn't think of relating it to anything. Your post was amazing. Conveyed a strong message. 🙂
Yes, the message is powerful and forces us to think about what freedom means. Is it based on the physical? Mental? Emotional? Psychological? A combination?
Excellent post. I can practically hear the low chanting in my head as I read it. The involuntary jerking of the body sent chills down my spine. Very powerful post!
I'm glad you "stepped into " my characters mind… that made it possible for you to react to the "jerking body" and made your reading experience more powerful… thank you!
Nicely done. You always do a great job with your FF pieces. 🙂
Thanks for the compliment, Mina! It means a great deal to me!
Though-provoking and poignant story. New word learned too. 🙂
I'm glad to entertain and educate my readers… 🙂
You made me cry, a poltical prisoner I gather from your words….freedomfrom pain and the best freedom from repression and oppression.
You always respond to my posts with accuracy and a special sensitivity… thank you, dear Rek:)
Wow! That was powerful!
Thank you, Sherry!