Challenge fic: Flying.
My entry to the August 'Dreams' challenge.
Jack dreams of freedom.
Jack gathered up the supper dishes and went to the river to wash up. The evening was unusually warm for this early in the season and he rolled his jeans and waded into the water. He felt the coolness of the water and the tiny currents massaging his legs. The comfort of the food and whiskey in his belly felt good- yeah everything felt good. The sun sat orange in the sky making everything glow soft and golden. He closed his eyes,breathed deeply and felt himself relax. A smile crept onto his face as the happiness bubbled from deep inside.
He turned back to the bank and looked to where Ennis rested against a log. Their eyes locked and he felt himself become light. Oh -it was going to happen now - in front of Ennis. It usually only happened when he was alone or in a crowd of strangers. As he moved back towards Ennis and the campfire he felt - he didn't need to look to know- his feet no longer touched the ground. He was flying.
In the movies superheroes flew horizontal, with their arms out. But when he flew it was upright. Just skimming along. For now it was just a few inches above the ground, and slow and gentle. Nonetheless, it was the most wonderful feeling- defying gravity, free to move with no friction, no penalty of energy loss, smooth, silent and intoxicating.
He willed himself towards Ennis and gradually drifted closer. Ennis watched,unsurprised by his friends means of travel, as Ennis smiled Jack felt a surge of energy and found himself moving faster.
He whirled around Ennis and laughed ' Hey Ennis, look, I can fly!'. As he moved around in front of his friend he reached out a hand. 'C'mon Ennis, it's fun, let's fly'. Ennis continued to smile but didn't move.
'C'mon Ennis', Jack repeated, holding out his hand. But Ennis just shook his head slightly and Jack heard words form in his mind 'Ain't a flyer Jack, not like you'.
Ennis rose and walked towards the tent, Jack drifted after him. 'Aw, c'mon Ennis, wontcha even try?' Ennis turned and smiled a sad, knowing smile and vanished inside the tent.
Jack awoke from a half remembered dream. His body felt warm and tingly, but his heart felt empty and sad. He slipped from the bed, made his way to the den, and poured himself another whiskey. He knew he would get no more sleep this night.
Jack dreams of freedom.
Jack gathered up the supper dishes and went to the river to wash up. The evening was unusually warm for this early in the season and he rolled his jeans and waded into the water. He felt the coolness of the water and the tiny currents massaging his legs. The comfort of the food and whiskey in his belly felt good- yeah everything felt good. The sun sat orange in the sky making everything glow soft and golden. He closed his eyes,breathed deeply and felt himself relax. A smile crept onto his face as the happiness bubbled from deep inside.
He turned back to the bank and looked to where Ennis rested against a log. Their eyes locked and he felt himself become light. Oh -it was going to happen now - in front of Ennis. It usually only happened when he was alone or in a crowd of strangers. As he moved back towards Ennis and the campfire he felt - he didn't need to look to know- his feet no longer touched the ground. He was flying.
In the movies superheroes flew horizontal, with their arms out. But when he flew it was upright. Just skimming along. For now it was just a few inches above the ground, and slow and gentle. Nonetheless, it was the most wonderful feeling- defying gravity, free to move with no friction, no penalty of energy loss, smooth, silent and intoxicating.
He willed himself towards Ennis and gradually drifted closer. Ennis watched,unsurprised by his friends means of travel, as Ennis smiled Jack felt a surge of energy and found himself moving faster.
He whirled around Ennis and laughed ' Hey Ennis, look, I can fly!'. As he moved around in front of his friend he reached out a hand. 'C'mon Ennis, it's fun, let's fly'. Ennis continued to smile but didn't move.
'C'mon Ennis', Jack repeated, holding out his hand. But Ennis just shook his head slightly and Jack heard words form in his mind 'Ain't a flyer Jack, not like you'.
Ennis rose and walked towards the tent, Jack drifted after him. 'Aw, c'mon Ennis, wontcha even try?' Ennis turned and smiled a sad, knowing smile and vanished inside the tent.
Jack awoke from a half remembered dream. His body felt warm and tingly, but his heart felt empty and sad. He slipped from the bed, made his way to the den, and poured himself another whiskey. He knew he would get no more sleep this night.