Monday 15 November 2010

Update 6: Running out of films :(

Hi everyone, this weeks update features the first of a duo of stories from my trip to Australia. This first story is about the first time I saw my family walking through the door of our hotel it was a pretty cool experience. Anyway read, enjoy and keep following me, I do this because people read them.

Daisy Chains and Old Fords

Daisy Chains and Old Fords

I am the heavy weight contender, before the title fight. I am every school boy and girl waiting to open that results envelope. The klaxons are sounding and I’m just waiting for the bombs to fall. Sitting on that sofa, wringing my hands, a nervous chill ripples through me. The silence is deafening me.

Buzz! Just like that colour erupts into the world, flashing vibrancy into my eyes. Earplugs fall from my ears and I realise the sound has always been there, just in the background and now it comes louder and happier. The bombs drop, the envelope is torn open and the bell for the 1st round has rung. IT was as strange feeling, my mind raced faster than ever. Sweat tickled my spine, me eyes ached with the pressure in my being. The were so many stories to tell. So many faces to memorise again. What will they think of me? Do I look ok? Will they be proud of me? Will they think I’m failing? Will they love me?

Though my mind raced with a tsunami of questions, my body moved as if it we slowly turning to stone. My arms we leaden, my legs we immersed in concrete. Every step became exhausting. Every breath shallower and shallower. The panic threatened to over come me. However my love and the thought of seeing them again out weighed the judgement they might enforce upon me. My love for them forced blood through my body cracking the stone. My love was so strong I felt it pulse in my finger tips. I focused all of my attention on that insignificant white door. A door that was present in its hundreds all over this building. But this one was special this door, with its matt steel handle, and the lock that never worked held behind it my reason for living. My family.

Each step took an eternity, my eyes pierced the wood of the door, they burned a hole through it. Finally I placed the inferno that was my hand upon the handle of that insignificant door. I felt the sweat condense on the cool steel. This was it. All the planning, talking, it would all come together or fall apart.

I pressed eagerly on the handle, the workings of the lock clicked and the resistance fell away. The door slowly sung open.

The brightness of the luminously lit hallways dazzled me. It was like gazing upon the gates of heaven from the darkness below. As the pure light faded into a delicate hue. I saw them. The emerged from the ether. The first sound I heard was the laugh of old friends reacquainted. The first thing I saw was the warm smiles of reunited family. In that second that I observed them without them seeing me. I knew I gazed upon life in its happiest and purest form. I saw the face of genuine love.

Then I saw him, amongst the faces of old and new, I saw him. He was so different from when I last saw him. Physically he hadn’t changes. But his form seemed larger and stronger. I saw him carry weight in his shoulders now. I saw wisdom and the wear of the world in his face, but he still had that impish glint in his eyes. His hands looked like Dad’s. Then I realised something. Last time I had left, I left a misguided youth who needed his big brother. Now striding towards me was a man, who didn’t.

As we locked in an embrace that was three years overdue. I felt the windows rattle, the foundations of the building buckle as these two stars reignited each others colossal flames from one another, and roared into life for another lifetime. The others blurred, slowed and faded into the background. We released each other and I felt the colour return to my face, I felt myself stand taller and the fire in my soul pour into to world. Arms around each other we returned to the room, which now echoed with happiness, playful teasing and sweetest of all, laughter. I moved between them all sharing hugs that should have been shared long ago, heard stories that made me laugh, and we all drank until we were merry.

I saw in each and everyone of them the same thing. Something that only today that could have given them. Something that unabashed love of family could have bestowed upon them, it was light. Every word spoken, said “I’m listening to you”. Every drink drunk said “I happy in your company”. Every touch said “Let me share the weight you carry”. Every smiling face said “I love you”.

The klaxons faded. The results were read. The fight was over, and it all came together. 

Written by,
                  Daniel Elmer

Monday 8 November 2010

Update 5: A Dream Child!?

Hi everyone,
I am now back from Australia, it was a fantastic experience. I love the country, its so vast and well sandy :). The weather was great and I now know what a shark warning sounds like (next time I'll actually get out of the water).
Missed my family too much and seeing them again was great, my brother is now a 21 year old man, pretty freaky considering I still remember when he was 5 and I used to lock him in the wardrobe! Anyway this next story is kind of an experiment. I wanted to take something mediocre like the walk home after a night out and blow it up to the grandest proportions. I hope it came off well. I had fun writing it and this is based on a walk home with my mate through Windsor after a night of debauched boozing. In the future I want to start writing a small series. It's going to feature the characters from No Love Lost in a journey through civil war. I have drafted the first already and I hope to have it done in the next few weeks. Anyway enjoy this one and I'll see you next week.

Odyssey Hyperbole

Odyssey Hyperbole


We exploded out of the strobe-lit cavern, into the fresh air. We stumbled to find our equilibrium we locked arms around each other in cheer. Aaron temporarily glanced back to the mouth of sin, from which we had emerged. He saw the doors creak as the shut and the smoke dissipate into the world. I sighed deeply as I knew the night was over, the music had long been silenced and the faces we met that night evaporated from memory. But we still had the best part of the evening to look forward to. The long walk through heaven.

I inhaled deeply, the noxious fumes of the evening that had clung to my soul were being slowly dissolved by the pure air that cleansed us both. With hazy vision we began to wander down the path to our salvation. The sole sound was the soles of our trim dress shoes clicking off of the cobbled walkway. It was as if the armies of the world marched in toe with us.

The stones on which we walked had been worn to a shimmer by the shoes of the many pilgrims who had walked this path before us. Gazing out down the seemingly endless road ahead, the thousands of stones shone out in the night. It was as if we walked upon the Milky way, taking billions of miles with each foot fall. The lights that hung above our heads lit up the way like searing Suns. Each one bathing us in its amber embrace until one of its brothers took over and guided us a few more steps.

The cool wind of the early morning caressed our faces. I felt her delicate fingers run through my hair and I felt her lips touch every part of my face. The wind put her hand down the opening of my shirt and blew out all of the sweaty bile from the night into the abyss that surrounded us. I felt reborn, I had once again died in that place only to be bore to the world anew, with no worries that the curse of adulthood brought. My only concern was to enjoy the walk.

Aaron looked around, allowing his blurred vision to pierce the pitch vacuum of space. His vision intermingled with colours like a mighty nebula. He could make out the figures of the old ones in the distance. Beings, Titans that had been in this place long before us, and would remain long after we, as dust were carried away by the wind herself. Each giant warranted more marvel than the last. As we stumbled arm in arm, under the powerful countenance of each giant, we Aaron took stock of their greatness. One Titan held in his hands nothing but water and in the other a stone. With these tools he was able to provide endless information on any subject. We passed the mighty black horse shortly after. Legend had it that if you were to capture the horse, he would provide you with endless wealth, which would appear to bleed from the walls. The final colossus that Aaron saw before his vision was too impaired, was the strongest of all. A lone female star, who if you provided her with beans would bestow upon the world a limitless supply of energy. We kept our heads low and hushed our voices out of respect for the slumbering colossi.

As we blissfully marched on, the stars began to become sparse and the Universe faded from our feet. We approached our destination in quiet humility, the milky way faded, the wind left my breast and the Suns above were replaced by the chalky hew of the morning blue sky. The journey was nearing its end. Many had set out on the same journey but we were the last survivors, we would be permitted to leave this place. The walls of  the place echoed with the lamentation of the many who came before us, and had failed. But even their cries were hushed, when two of the strongest marched up defiantly, shaking off heavy chains that had bound us to Windsor that night. Proud we shook the very earth with our stride, fire erupted from our bellies and strength resounded in our being.

Suddenly from the shadows lurched a figure. His back was bent, his hands and face twitched spasmodically. He seemed to not know where he was. The charcoal holes of his eyes, met with the chipped ice of ours. Purpose seemed to shoot through his body. His crippled body jerkily almost ran towards us. As he approached us we could see that he was one of the unfortunate souls lost. Doomed to wander this place until the salvation of day came. There was nothing we could do for this bent and broken figure, he pathetically meandered closer. Until we could see his blood shot eyes and the wild confusion in his face.

We stood facing each other, ready for our final test. We would not be denied our passage by anyone. Croakily he raised his head and muttered something to us.
Aaron and I set our faces like stone, the adrenaline roared through our minds. Hearts pumping hard, our veins pumped blood and fury throughout our being. If he sought to halt our leaving, we were ready to fight. I glanced around at the surround vista of dawn. This place would not be standing once we erupted. The stars themselves would shatter like glass under the power of our blows. The morning sky would be torn in half, exposing the very workings of existence. The ground would collapse under the weight of our fury.
We leaned closer as he attempted to speak again.

“You got a spare fag, mate”.


Written by
               Daniel Elmer

Sunday 17 October 2010

Update 4: A New Hope

Well the time has come for me to abandon you all to go to Oz. I have left you with a story I wrote a while ago. It's pretty personal as those of you who know will be able to work out. I'm kind of happy the way it turned out. I want to revisit it at some point when I get back in order to flesh out the varying senses. I think I get the feeling across but I don't punt it home. I'll have a look when I get back. Anyway keep reading I'll be working on more material over the holiday so watch out. I'm gonna try some different things, with settings and motifs. Again comments and emails are always appreciated. Love you all.

Celestial Waltz

Celestial Waltz


The dinner was turning out to be a rather bleak affair. We were all dressed in our best clothes. Trousers pressed, shirts crisp and clean. It was a grand meal of the ceremonial vegetarian dishes. No meat was served as this was a time to celebrate life, no death could be present at the table.
I looked around the cold, vacuous room at my Mother and Brother, both looked despondent. My little Brother maneuvered a piece of unidentifiable greenery around his plate. My mother simply sat eating slowly and methodically, almost as if she were on automatic pilot. I knew we were all fighting back a renewed grief. It was supposed to be a time of celebration but all we could think about was the person we lost all those years ago. Every holiday the grief shot through us. This was the worst holiday of all. My palms were sweating already, I was so nervous. I fought to choke down the tears that desperately fought to be released. I knew that if I broke, if the new man of the house broke everyone would break. I couldn’t , I couldn’t be soft anymore, especially today.

“Mum, do you want anymore…Mum please don’t cry” .
I cupped her tiny hand in my own to comfort her. She sat there shaking, she was too strong to weep but tears crept down her face. My face grew hot, my jaw clenched.
I looked over to my brother, who had never been the same after we lost him. He never cried he wanted to be strong like him and I, but I wasn’t strong.
“Jack, you OK?”
“Yeah, Mum it’s OK, I miss him too”
My brother moved round the table through the empty, cold atmosphere of the room. He stopped at my Mother’s side. We both embraced her. We knew how hard today would be for her.
“You know we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to”.
She dabbed the tears with the corner of her napkin.
“Yes son, we do, I’ll be fine. Thanks boys, now go and finish your-”.
The antique clock on the small mantle piece began it’s dirge-like chime. We all stared at the clock as it chimed through the silence. It was time to go. My Mother rose to her feet, placing her napkin down neatly, she crossed her knife and fork on the plate.
“OK boys we need to go now. Don’t be afraid, we will all feel better once it’s over.”
My brother gazed at his feet.
“Dan, what if…what if he’s not happy”
“I know I’m worried too, I’m sure he will be happy though. Come on lets all go out together.”

*   *   *   *

We stood in the face of the front door, Jack and I clasped my mother’s hand. We stood for a second to ready ourselves. Then all together we opened the door and stepped out onto the street.
Already we could see other families out on the street ready to observe the miracle that was soon to occur. The crisp night was still and silent. The street lights were already all switched off. The village was covered in shadow. I looked at the droves of people who stood outside with us. There was every kind of person, young, old,  families large and small. I was overcome by how, so many people could make absolutely no noise.

We all stood outside for what seemed to be an eternity, waiting.
“Mum, there are clouds. How will we know when it starts.”
“Jack, they will find a way to make themselves known to us. They have come all the way from heaven to see us again, clouds wont stop them’.
I looked up imagining what their journey from the spiritual plane must be like.
I smiled I was feeling better now.

Everyone felt the change. The air seemed to become static, slightly humid. Every pair of eyes were turned skyward. We knew it was about to begin, I felt the tears well into my eyes again and my hand started to shake. I felt my Brothers, hot little hand grip mine, he squeezed as I heard him begin to quietly cry.

The thick grey clouds overhead began to quiver and move in a spiral , it looked as if the hand of God were stirring them. The centre of the vortex seemed to swell, a low rumble echoed across the face of the Earth. Then a brilliant light pierced the cold darkness. There were some gasps from people. The pillar of light broke the shield of darkness like a mighty spear. A gouge in the cloud, miles across was formed and we stood directly underneath it. As the light began to fade people began to point and I could feel the sense of excitement build and build.

Through the chasm slowly dropped what looked like specks of purest light. They danced amongst themselves, it was like watching a celestial waltz. The dots twinkled and swirled like a school of fish as the descended to the Earth. There were billions of souls .
I was amazed at the very sight, I realised how lucky we were. Once in a half century the souls of those past as allowed to revisited their mortal coil and those left behind. Though I was afraid I would not see him in the plethora of shining lights.

My brother looked at me.
“I can see him”.
“Where?”
“He’s the brightest one of all, look”.
Jack pointed his finger at the centre of the vortex  of light. I smiled as I saw him. His light was indeed the brightest of all. As they approached the Earth individual lights split off and floated towards those they loved. I saw our light begin to move towards us. As he approached us, we all hugged each other in a tight circle.
“Mum..” I could finish my sentence.
“Don’t worry let him come to you”. My Mother’s face became bright as the light grew closer.

It floated over head for a second. Then it washed over us. My family was no longer with me. I was surrounded by light, my very core was warm and filled with love. I felt the presence of him with me. I threw my arms out in embrace. I felt him hug me. My soul was uplifted  all the worry disappeared all my grief was eased.
“I miss you, I hated the world for taking you away from me. I don’t want to be a man yet, I miss being a son.”
He whispered into my ear, something just for me.
“OK, I promise.”
As I finished speaking the light faded  but the warmth remained .I was back in the street with my Mother and Brother. Both of them had tears streaming down their faces. They had seen him as well.
I let the tears run down my cheeks, I smiled with a quivering lip.
“Mum, Dad’s OK isn’t he?”
My mother wiped the tears from my cheek.
“Yes son, he’s fine and he loves us all very much.” .

Monday 4 October 2010

Upload 3: Men and a Baby

Hello, again everyone,
Just wanted to say a big thanks for the feedback I have been getting. I'm really starting to enjoy this writing lark Now this weeks upload was actually supposed to be last weeks, however as The Journey was a work of spontaneity I wanted you to read that one first. No Love Lost is inspired by my love of war-sci-fi novels. Most of you know I read alot of Warhammer 40k and Abnett always managed to construct great battle scenes. This was my attempt at a small one. I think it went well, I wish I could have created a greater sense pressure, but I hope this is still good. Next week I have a pretty personal story to put up, which I actually wrote just before this upload. It's about my Dad and and his death. Nothing graphic or OTT, just wish the story would come true. But that's for next week. Please enjoy this little slice of mayhem and comment or FB me with what you think.