Lizzie Koch Week 120: Watching Angels

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Lizzie Koch’s Picture Choice: 1

Title: Watching Angels

Tossing and turning all night, it was no surprise to Theo when he awoke dripping in sweat and gasping for air in the stuffy room. He couldn’t recall what had made his sleep so restless other than the recurring image of a small stone statue, a cherub. He dismissed it, getting up and washing away the groggy sleep. He stared in the mirror. Tired but dark eyes stared back. Was it possible for eyes to grow darker? Always a milk chocolate brown, his eyes were now dark, empty orbs just like his hollow soul. He knew his soul left left him the moment his hands gripped tight around her neck, the way her eyes bulged as he squeezed ever tighter causing his fingers to turn white. As she fell, all the light inside him snuffed out.

But he liked the power, the energy, the satisfaction.

Theo left the small bedsit and walked carefree through the sunshine, affording a smile to passersby. But the little old woman on her nick-nack stall scowled as he approached. Imagining her limp, lifeless body, he browsed, knowing his presence annoyed her.

The smile on his face abruptly vanished when he saw the little cherub. Ashen, he stepped back as the woman held it up, now smiling. Theo rushed away.

How could a stupid little cherub make him feel this way? All night that thing was in his head.

In the park, where he met her, he relaxed. This was work and he needed to watch carefully. But the cherubs still wouldn’t leave his head.

Everywhere he turned, cherubs appeared, taunting, haunting him.

Blindly, he rushed, into the woods, leaving the park behind. But by every tree, a cherub sat. He ran, not knowing what way to turn. Suddenly, he stopped. he stood where the earth had been disturbed. Where his secret lay beneath. Panting, he knelt, touching the earth, clawing great clumps up in his hands. The cold earth soothed him and he knelt back, took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

A cherub sat on the earth. He screamed, trying to stand but his legs were numb and he fell forward, smashing his head on the cherub, falling face down into the earth. Blood spewed over the ground as he lay still, his breathing shallow, his eyes open but still. The cherub appeared to smile down at him as silently, he sank slowly into the mud, unable to pull himself out, unable to shout for help, unable to stop. The weight of the soil above him squeezed every ounce of breath from him, crushing his chest as he lay motionless on top of his secret.

The cherubs gained a new angel that day as she rose from the ground where Theo would lay for eternity.

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I dream of sharing my work with the big wide world one day as a published author. Right now, I share flash fiction with a wonderful community of writers and friends. If you liked this story, then why not visit my blog at http://40somethingundomesticateddevil.blogspot.co.uk/ for more. Thank you. Love Lizzie x

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