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Pulse of Life

by tusker 

Posted: 14 May 2009
Word Count: 121
Summary: Flash 2 challenge: Pulse


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Up in the night sky, she watches a weak pulse of light. She imagines its sound like a burning heavy throb as its life slowly diminishes.

A beacon that warns; a distant beacon sending a last message through space as if in demonstration that all life will end like this some day.

On clear nights, she gazes up at that feeble, pale pulse. She visualises it burning itself out, right down to the very core of its existence.

As she watches, panic churns up her insides as she compares its final death throes to her own fiery sun, its aftermath and the terrible consequences.

She won’t watch the night sky anymore. There are too many fearful questions. Too many portentous answers.






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Comments by other Members



Forbes at 07:29 on 14 May 2009  Report this post
Crab nebula? You've captured how she's got things out of proportion very well here. No use worrying about milk that'll be spilt millions of years from now...

Good one Jennifer.

Cheers Avis


tusker at 07:34 on 14 May 2009  Report this post
Thanks Avis.

Got it in one.

Jennifer

Prospero at 08:06 on 14 May 2009  Report this post
Very good, Jennifer. But as Avis says, nothing to worry about yet.

Best

John

<Added>

Sorry, I meant to say this has a lovely poetic wistfulness. But I deleted it by mistake. Bloody computers! They are supposed to know want you intend.

Poo

Prosps


tusker at 09:55 on 14 May 2009  Report this post
Me and computers too, John. I'm only at basic level.

Thanks for your kind comments. Thanks too for the compliment.

From star gazer. Sorry, I mean Jennifer.

Findy at 18:01 on 14 May 2009  Report this post
Oh you are the star gazer here Jennifer Let's hope Avis and John are right though.

Lovely and as John said it has a poetic resonance to it. I had some difficulty with the second line,

She imagines its sound like a burning heavy throb as its life slowly diminishes


Did not quite flow for me, am not able to place my finger on what is wrong though - something to do with the 'its' I think

findy


tusker at 18:18 on 14 May 2009  Report this post
Thanks Findy.

Yes, you're right. Will have a think.

Jennifer

Bunbry at 16:16 on 15 May 2009  Report this post
Hi Jennifer, I'm not really sure why the woman is so upset as the Sun is going to last a zillion years [at least] when she has possibly only 50.

Nick

PS It might be a squillion years, actually - I'm not really sure!

tusker at 19:43 on 15 May 2009  Report this post
Hi Nick,

Time is immaterial in her case. Time for her is now, or soon while her own flesh and blood are alive, which could be great, or great, or even greater grandchildren.

Survival of her own species.

I know, it's too deep.

Jennifer

GraemeR at 20:13 on 15 May 2009  Report this post
Nice story, again quite poetic in its prose.

The panic didn't seem to quite fit in this - maybe even just a line saying something along the lines of "they say we have millions of years, but how can they be sure?" would justify the protagonists fears a little more

tusker at 06:39 on 16 May 2009  Report this post
Yes, Graeme, I see your point.

This was, I suppose, just a thought. I think this challenge has stirred up a few futuristic horrors.

Jennifer

crowspark at 08:51 on 17 May 2009  Report this post
An age old reflection on impermanence and an excellent entry for the pulse challenge. I liked the sight and implied sound, the contrast between the "burning heavy throb" and "her own fiery sun" The last line and that pairing at the end,

There are too many fearful questions. Too many portentous answers.


Poetic.

tusker at 06:50 on 19 May 2009  Report this post
Thanks Bill.

Glad you liked it.

Jennifer


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