Elsewhere

The Vignette Gazette Edition #199: Dream

Bing Image Creator

It was the smell more than anything else — sharp, smoky, sulphuric. More than the swooshing, whistling, crackling pops, or booms.

Jeanine wished herself anywhere but here. Her hosts had planned fireworks as a celebration.

They couldn’t know she’d seen a real fire that smelled like this at first, before the other horrific smell came, invaded her nose, and wouldn’t leave, no matter what else she smelled.

Recently, she’d read about the zoo fire.

She fled into a dream.

Horses thundered across open fields. A giraffe nibbled leaves from a tree, untouched by flames.

When the applause began, she came back.

Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose. — Michelle Rosenthal

Many thanks to Michael John Scott and FS Editors.

[embed]Our Weekly Drabble The Vignette Gazette Edition #199medium.com

RMW