Flash Fiction: Angel in the Moonlight

The bed shifted as she got up, wrapped a robe around her and padded to the door, not turning on any lights. He hadn’t slept yet, knowing there was a full moon tonight, knowing she would be drawn outside. He sighed and rolled over, but after a minute or two he rose also, needing to follow her, to make sure she was safe. He stopped and pulled on his blue cotton robe, but didn’t bother with slippers. It was a warm summer night and the grass should still dry.

The back door clicked shut, but she hadn’t turned the garden lamp; there was no need, the yard was lit by the soft silverly moonlight. He watched as she glided across the grass and into the field beyond. He followed only to the edge of the yard, stopping in the shadow of a tree. He didn’t want her to know he was awake too. She would feel guilty, worry about him, instead of taking this time alone that he knew she needed. She stopped in the midst of the wildflowers, letting the robe drop from her shoulders. He caught his breath as she spread her wings, silhoutted against the moon . No matter how many times he saw her long linen white feather they still took his breath away, especially when like tonight, she spread them wide, looking almost as if she could rise right into the air and fly away, leave him.

And she should leave him. She didn’t belong here. Even now, amongst the cricket chirps and frog croaks he imagined he could her gentle sobbing. He knew she was lonely; she had left everything, everyone to be here with him, but then a change in her tone made him listen to what she was saying, her face raised to the moon, her hands held out in front of her, palms up. He could only catch bits, “…blessed to be here…keep him safe….love…,” but all her words seemed to be about him, no mention of the sadness he could see in her eyes occasionally, no regrets.

He hurried back in to the house, tears filling his eyes. He needed to be back in bed before she knew he had been spying on her.

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Dottie at Tink’s Place has a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge that I’m enjoying. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday – 350 words, give or take. This one is actually last week’s picture though, I had just never gotten around to writing anything for it until today. You’ll have to head over to her blog to see today’s picture.