[ fyoo-gey-shuh s ]
Adjective
- Tending to disappear.
- Fleeting.
Let’s Write…
** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem–inspired by the word, fugacious, where does it take me? Where does it take you?
Was the ghost my friend? I wondered and, despite my doubts, there was still a sense of closeness I felt from its recurring presence. I mean, what motivations, desires, or things in common could we have? I’m alive, and it’s dead. Right?
A flash of uncertainty with that idea washed over me, and I made up my mind.
The wispy form swirled around the foot of my bed in the early morning hours like a ribbon of smoke.
“Good morning,” I said, the pleasure for its presence was clear in my voice.
The reply wasn’t distinct, but the ribbon of smoke circled my head, and a sing-song sound filled my ears. No words, but, to me, the message was clear: good morning!
“You need a name,” I said. “Do you have a name?”
I figured that after two days, I should call it something other than “ghost.” After all, it was unlike any ghost I ever read about in fairytales or in ghost stories. Again, the reply came the same way, swirling about my head, but no words were distinguishable.
“How about, Song?” I said, shrugging my shoulders, which turned into a sky-reaching stretch and a yawn.
The ribbon swirled before me, hovering above my bed, and with a puff, it turned into a checkmark. The same wispy texture about its edges, but the image was clear.
“Alright, then. Song, it is.”
Song whirled around my ears, playing its tune when it suddenly vanished. Not a second later, I heard my mother’s footsteps climbing the stairs, coming to get me out of bed.
Notes/Thoughts/Ideas
This was really fun, and my imagination is swimming!
I love the mystery involved in this. What exactly is this swirling ghost? What can it do? Why has it come, and is it only to this main character? Plus a bunch of other questions in my mind.
This could be another fantasy quest story, with the main character following instructions from Song, and we follow where it takes her. There’s also the mystery element. Trying to uncover who or what Song is, and the message it’s trying to convey to her.
There’s clearly an ancient magic or mythology to uncover, which I love. There could even be a latent ability in the main character that allows her to do more than just see this “ghost.” Some sort of magical ability she didn’t know she had, which she uncovers along her journey. I love stories like that!
Lots of possibilities!
What do you think of Fugacious?
Sound like an exciting story to you? Where do you see it going? Perhaps this ghost really isn’t her friend? Now we have a darker story to tell.
Leave your thoughts, your own story beginning, flash-fiction, or whatever in the comments! Where did fugacious or my story take you?
If you liked this story, check out my podcast of short stories, More Than A Story.
Today’s word is from Merriam-Webster.
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