Candlelight Echoes

The moment I finished writing Deferred Reply, I turned my attention to the second piece of micro-fiction I planned for the month. This story picks up after Uninvited Guest and continues the budding romance between Lucas and Elouise. At the outset, I only had the barest shape of where the story might go. With a few notes, past fragments, and a helping hand from AI, I outlined their next step, then sat down to refine it by hand.

There’s something sacred about candlelight. Candlelight softens the edges of everything, skews time, and creates a hush which everyone, including ghosts, is compelled to respect. This is a story that lives in the stillness created by candlelight. This story doesn’t rely upon confrontation or revelation. The narrative depicts a moment between two people, though others who have stubbornly refused to pass on continue trying to intrude.

This micro-tale unfolds in the quiet aftermath of something unspoken. Intimacy defines the setting. However, the atmosphere, not the space, creates tension. The story is about the space between the questions not asked and the answers not provided. Lucas bears guests few could ever understand, and Elouise hovers between wonder and fear, brushing against truths she’s not quite ready to grasp.

This isn’t your typical ghost story. If you’re unfamiliar with Lucas’s abilities, you might explore the back catalogue of Tattoos for context. Either way, this tale is a focus on the quiet defiance of choosing not to speak before you’re ready. Presence prevails, even when escape beckons. When sitting next to someone and sensing unsaid words, you may find something familiar in this situation.

Come, sit down and allow me to give you a mini-escape and kindle your imagination.

Elouise leaned against the worn arm of the couch, tucking her legs beneath her, while the candlelight flickered across Lucas’s skin. One by one, ghosts emerged from his tattoos. Some appeared as smoky tendrils, while others were as well-defined as Lucas himself. They drifted around the room like smoke.

Samantha emerged from Lucas’s body. Her translucent form settled beside Elouise like a child ready to share a secret. “Can I ask you a question?”

Elouise smiled, shaking her head. “Not tonight.”

Samantha’s form blinked, then dissolved, leaving a fading sigh in her wake.