(This story was posted almost exactly a year ago, on 2/14/2020 (Valentine’s Day!) With Sue not able to put up a new write-photo prompt, I decided to revisit this one :) And a reminder to visit the Carrot Ranch Sue Vincent Rodeo Classic.)
I felt the turbulence as she entered the room, the low pressure system sucking the air out and drawing all eyes in.
A flash of lightning struck as she glanced around the packed room.
The crowds parted as torrent moved forward.
She didn’t even see me as she passed inches away, but the gale force winds turned me with her.
She went at the bar.
People turned back to what they were doing. The music came back on.
I remembered to breath.
But then I saw her again. I drew in a sharp breath.
My mind clouded up.
How dare I even think I could even speak to one such as her?
Oh, the impenetrable fortress high upon the cliff! Her stare would hold back vast armies of admirers.
Drink in hand, she walk a little ways then stopped. She stood, not too far in front of me, throwing thunderbolts around the dense packed room.
The whirlwind hit my stomach, tearing up everything in its path, and took aim at my poor head.
More lightning strikes as she performed another search of the room, forcing all who faced her to run for safety. Was she expecting to find a friend in the masses of faces?
Her gaze met mine and the room grew dark and cold, imploding in to that single beautiful, yet horrible heart of the hurricane, her face. A frown. She stood high, a thundercloud threatening all before it.
The wind shifted and she was standing before me.
A bright ray of sun, as she half smiled.
“Is anyone sitting there?” She nodded at the chair across the tiny table from mine.
I tried to calm down the hail and pouring rain in head.
“You….” I pointed at the seat with my entire hand, palm up, as if offering her a throne.
She smiled. The sun came out, dissolving the clouds.
“I’m Mike,” I said, giving her that same hand to shake. “Are you meeting friends?”
She took my hand in a warm, firm grasp. “No. I’m new in town and was just looking for a friendly face and a place to sit.”
She smiled again.
The impenetrable walls on top of the cliff, obviously weakened by the tempest, crumbled a bit.
Although there was still a lot of turbulence on my inside, there was an outer calm.
The storm had passed.
And yet, in ways, it had just begun….
**
Happy Valentine’s Day!
***
This was written for Sue Vincent’s writephoto challenge. The photo at the top was provided by Sue for the challenge, as was the key word “storm“.
Trent's World (the Blog) 
I think I saw her, but she didn’t come to my table, so…
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Couldn’t miss her, she blew in like a storm
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Just as good a read a second time 💜
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Thanks, Willow!
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Always a pleasure Trent
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:)
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What a great repost to show appreciation to Sue, Trent! I love how you used the brightness and weather to describe his mood. Excellent read!
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Thanks, Miriam! Looking back at stories from Sue’s prompts, this one jumped out, so I knew I had to use it this week :)
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It was well done, Trent, from darkness to light to brightness in minutes. Wow! :-)
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:)
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nice repost with this Trent – expect that it is bitter sweet because of Sue’s illness and so each time I see her name in various posts my heart sinks a little – at least she gets to see and feel the love as her days wind down – but it is sad and sometimes the big C comes a knocking when we least expect it
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Thanks for the reminder – I just added a link to the Carrot Ranch Sue Vincent Rodeo Classic.
Thanks, Yvette. It does sadden me too. I know it is very hard for her. That is one reason I am trying to call out to show my appreciation. We do need to show the love to people when they are still here to receive it.
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yes – and i am not sure what to do for my part to join in / i barely knew her and never did a post with her challenge and well – might sit this one out and just cheer on the mission and keep prayers for her and the family
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I’m sure cheering people on and sending prayers is fine :) I occasionally hit a post from a blogger that I don’t know very well, or at all, where the person is in obvious pain, and it is hard to know what to say. Clicking “like” seems heartless, but what do you say if you don’t know the person? I do try to leave something, just to let them know someone out here heard.
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thanked T
and i did let her know a few thoughts when i read the post about her son’s tragic attack and recovery path…
anyhow / thanks for your thoughtful reply
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