http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/02/08/flash-fiction-challenge-inspiration-from-inexplicable-photos/
Cast No Shadow
Ellen sat on a park bench, basking in the warm sunlight. She
preferred first dates to be in sunlight. It was easier to see a man’s shadow
that way and know right away whether she wanted any more to do with him. She
smirked, watching a strait-laced looking suit walk by. His shadow crawled on a
leash beside him, wearing high heels. Damn I need to get laid. Everyone’s
shadow is casting sex.
She was holding a red carnation, and he was supposed to be
wearing a blue shirt. Too vague really, but his picture online was a reasonably
clear shot. A big teddy-bear of a guy, brown bearded with kind blue eyes. He
might not be her physical type, but she needed someone normal enough to fuck,
at least once, or she’d lose all ability to function.
Oh God. That’s got to be him, she thought. He cast a shadow
of a petite woman, with anime boobs and ass, pointed ears and a big fluffy fox
tail. Her cheeks burned as he approached with an aw-shucks smile and held out
his hand. She limp fingered a hello and tried to focus on small talk, anything but looking down.
She looked past her temporary companion. There was a coffee
stall set-up, the patrons all casting their sexual secrets for Ellen’s eyes in
the bright sunlight. Damsel fantasy, feather whips, macho-man… Except, one wasn’t.
Her heart rate sped. The man was short, maybe only a little taller than her,
but other than his lack of shadow, he looked normal. Business casual. Buying a
latte. Walking away. Why? Why can’t I see his secrets?
She came back every day for a week, but the skies conspired
against her and with the sun covered by clouds, no one cast enough shadow. Had he
had light brown hair like that guy, or was it more auburn like that one? Maybe
he had only come to get coffee here once, walking on his way to somewhere else.
Maybe I’ll never see him again.
The eighth day, it rained. Ellen shivered on the bench. This
is stupid. This is ridiculous. I need to let this go.
The next day, she was back. The sun played tag with clouds,
but she saw him. Like a fairytale, a perfect sunbeam came down to illuminate a
man with dark brown hair, speckled with silver, and his perfect lack of shadow.
Ellen rose from her bench and followed him to an insurance office three blocks
from the park.
She crossed the street after he went in. He was chatting
with the receptionist. Then he walked deeper inside where Ellen couldn’t see.
Steadfast Insurance. They’ll have a website.
Eric Granger. 48 years old. Lives alone, not even a pet. An
insurance agent for his entire working life. No convictions, not even parking
ticket. The internet is an amazing tool.
Ellen parked her car across the street from Eric’s house. I
should just knock. I should just knock and introduce myself. Or go to his
office and pretend to want to buy insurance. She shook her head. There was too
much to explain, too much she couldn’t say.
Her grandmother had told her, “What you will see is real,
and what’s real is true, but prove it or not, they’ll hang you for a witch
either way.”
Commitment to an asylum was probably more likely nowadays,
but fuck that. Gran had never said anything about people without shadows. What
if he’s dangerous? Or in danger? Maybe he’s sick, dying and just doesn’t have
any sexual fantasies for me to see. But everyone has secrets. Everyone has
fantasies.
I’ll just go knock. Just as soon as he comes home. And I’ll
ask him what? This is so stupid.
The garage door of his house started to crank up. Ellen shut
her car off and opened the door. She shut it again. Opened. Shut. She rubbed
her hands together, but they wouldn’t warm. What do I even say to him? ‘Hi, I’m
Ellen, and I was wondering why my magical abilities don’t work on you?’ Right.
His car slid inside, and the garage rumbled shut. I should
just go. I should forget about this.
Her passenger side door opened and Eric slid in. Ellen
froze, then shook as he pointed a gun at her.
“Why have you been following me?”
“I wanted to know something, but I don’t think I, um, really
want to anymore, so I’ll just, could you please get out and I’ll just leave?”
“Are you a cop? Did you call the cops?”
“No. No, nothing like that.”
“What did you want to know?” He cocked the gun, and Ellen
felt wet warmth spread on her seat.
“I can’t see your shadow and I wanted to know why.”
“Bullshit. Tell me the truth, bitch.”
“Oh God, I swear, that’s it, I’m just crazy, I’m a total
wacko and I’m just hallucinating right now, so you can just go and I’ll never
even remember this happened, please, just let me go.”
He chuckled and caressed the gun barrel along her neck. “I’ve
never had one just come to me before. Usually I have to go shopping.”
He pulled out a syringe and popped the cap off. The needle
bit her neck and she slipped away.
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