Soft granules shift with each step as I walk the sandy strip. They ease between my toes, slide over my sandaled feet; leave a rim of grit around each nail-bed. A favored place, this swing. During the day, it basks in the full cast of sun’s light; at night, it hides in the coolness of evening’s deepest shadow. A place to laugh, to steal a kiss, perhaps a first touch… Hallowed ground made sacred by whispered promises broken only by those foolish enough to make them.
I sit. The ropes stretch taut, the plank groans beneath me as the swing gently begins to sway. My mind wanders, time passes; my thoughts fill with remembrance of you. The shade of the tree swallows me as day turns to dusk and dusk quickly flees before night. The image of you with another beneath our swing flashes by; my rage no less tempered with time. I kick my sandals aside, dig my toes deep into the soft sand. I reach for you. I know you’re there, you promised you always would be, a promise I saw kept with pickax and spade. The only blight on our perfect evening… the cunt that lies dead beside you, but I can look past that and enjoy our time together, if only in my mind.
~ Nina D’Arcangela
© Copyright Nina D’Arcangela. All Rights Reserved.
Pen of the Damned 
Beautiful writing, Nina. I love how it gets vicious at the end. I could feel the sand on my feet.
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Thank you, Brian! A tactile response was a big part of what I was shooting for in this one. Plus the angry, slighted chick angle. 😉
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Reblogged this on THE CRYPT OF HORROR and commented:
This week’s horror short story is a beautiful and darkly written piece “Granules” by Nina D’Arcangela.
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Thank you for the reblog, Brian! 😀
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Love this piece! You took such an innocent and pleasant photo and ripped something vicious out of it. Beautiful work!
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Destroying innocence with tooth ad claw is kinda’ my thing. I’m glad you liked my interpretation, Lee!! 😀
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Awesome piece, Nina! Complete with your trademark viciousness, too!! Loved it! 🙂
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Thank you, Joe! A nice quick rabbit punch to the back of the head will do nicely every time. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😀
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Thank you for reblogging ‘Granules’, Lee! 😀
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A great and creepy story.
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Thank you! 😀
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You have this subtle buildup hidden underneath gorgeous prose that is so… So… We’ll, I never see the brutal twists coming. Great story as always Nina!
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Thanks, John! Remember… there is always a brutal twist coming. 😉
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A heart warming and viciously dark piece, Nina! I loved it!
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Thank you, Jon! Short and sweet… just like their romance! 3:)
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Reblogged this on Jon Olson and commented:
GRANULES by Pen of the Damned’s Nina D’Arcangela
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