Drabble #128: The Space Between

[jalenstrix]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 127, with entries by redwolf and me (your intrepid drabble proposer jalenstrix, who finally got her act together after a week's extension), and comments by us both as well. As always, special labyfic love to redwolf for adding entries and comments for many previous drabble prompts. Huzzah!





For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:

The Space Between

The space between what and what? Or who and who? What's this space like anyway? Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.




Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit for this month of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!

Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:
Word count: # of words
Drabble: $your_beautiful_drabble


I'll aim to get the next drabble challenge out on the first Monday of next month (July 3).

I'm also very happy to take suggestions if something in particular strikes your fancy -- comment on this post or PM me with your suggestions. You can see our current collected suggestions here.


Remember: Feedback is LOVE. So do reply to your fellow labyficcers' drabbles if so inclined. (Though be careful of concrit unless specifically okayed by the author beforehand. Authors generally write for love.)

Comments

[jalenstrix]

Word count: 405

Drabble

I didn’t know what to do with myself, and that was the truth.

Jareth, of course, would have had plenty of ideas. Very fun, very naughty ideas that would make me feel very good. But the whole point was that he wasn’t here right now. No one was — not my wonderful, highly-exasperating, Machiavellian Faerie Lord husband, not his mega-maniacal mother, not our mega-magical small children, no one. It was Jareth’s gift to me, this perfect bubble of time, distraction-free. I could do literally anything.

I could just breathe.

I watched the sunlight play along my wrist, feeling its warmth seep in.

Nice, isn’t it?

I jumped. What the…

It can be very nice here, you know. The Labyrinth’s presence curled up and around me like a cat.

I relaxed into it, imagining giving it a gentle mental stroke the way I used to give Beast, my former fuzzy grey kitty of blessed memory. I missed Beast, and hoped he was having a good roll in that great catnip patch in the sky. My chest clenched a little as I remembered how his purr would rumble through my hands. There were a lot of things I missed from my old life Aboveground, Beast one among many.

The Labyrinth purred into my mind. Beast would have been proud.

I imagined scratching behind hypothetical Faerie realm ears. You know, this was supposed to be my alone time.

Surely I don’t count as people, do I?

Beast would truly have been proud. He never counted himself as people either and intruded on my alone time with energetic aplomb. You haven’t by chance ever met a fuzzy grey cat who used to spend time with me, have you?

You mean Beast?

My heart gave a little skitter.

We talk all the time. He says hello. And that he misses you.

I swallowed hard, pushing aside impossibilities. After all, my husband could make time do aerial somersaults. Can you tell him I miss him too? And send him a good ear scratch?

Of course.

Thank you.

Did you want to go back to your quiet alone time now? I can leave.

You’re welcome to stay while I sit in the sun for a few more minutes.

The Labyrinth’s presence flopped across my mental lap in a perfect Beast imitation. The weight was warm and familiar and just right.

My breath caught for a moment, an ache fading. Thank you.

My pleasure.

[redwolf]

I think I need some alone time with the Labyrinth because that just sounds wonderful 🦊🧡

[jalenstrix]

Right?