Author’s Note: Hi! This is a very weird story I decided to go with, I hope you enjoy it. First real attempt at a romance, so tell me how I did. Also: NOTE FOR ALL Y’ALL WHO GO ON LIKE SPREES: I personally think that likes are nice, but comments and critiques are much more helpful! I kind of hate it when people just go on random liking sprees. I’d appreciate it much more if you took the time to read and give feedback. Points are nice but at the end of the day, improvement is better! OK, that’s all, have a good time reading. This will probably be my only story this week because I'm working on two projects right now.
Blue: The Colour of Liberation
A Romantic Short Story by Ana Govindasamy
Trigger Warnings/Disclaimers: Attempted Suicides and Depression
Red. The colour of danger, of rage. Red stained my hands as I plunged them into clear purity, washing away the sins. Then I was sucked under by the deep blue. The swirling death and decay.
Then I saw black. The absence of light. The presence of hopelessness.
That day was two years ago. Two years since I jumped onto the rocks, moss and seaweed snaking through the cracks, slipping me up. And it was two years since that fishing boat caught a corpse, black-and-blue bruises speckling her body. Two years since the screaming sirens and blue lights.
It’s been two years and I still haven’t recovered.
Because it hasn’t been two years since the last time I tried to kill myself.
It’s been two months.
After that day, I realised how idiotic I was for jumping. It’s too public. People know too quickly. You need to be more discreet. If there’s anything I’ve learnt over the past few years it’s that I can't tie a knot, I can't do basic maths and I’m bad at planning.
Despite my numerous fails, I would've tried again last month if I hadn’t met you.
That day in the library. You asked me a question, I think it was if we had the new book by your favourite author. I didn’t hear; I was too lost in your deep blue eyes, your galaxy dyed hair. Any other day, the galaxy would’ve reminded me I was just a meaningless speck of dust in the universe. That I was useless and would never amount to anything, mean anything to anyone. But in your context it reminded me that I was part of something bigger, I was born from celestial matter, as old as the earth itself.
You opted to manually take your books out, as opposed to the machines. Your library card said “Stella Rigalez”. As if you could have a more fitting name. You left me fantasizing over you and your sapphire-sea eyes, your seraphic hair.
You came back the next week. Then your visits became more regular. We got to know each other. You worked at NASA, you loved space and the idea of extra-terrestrial life, of the creation of the universe. I did too. I didn’t know as much as you. You inspired me, though. So, when I gathered the courage to ask you, it might've been a stumbling mess, but you agreed all the same.
That night I made a list. What did I know about you? Well, you were pescatarian and lactose-intolerant, so I decided to rule out dinner. I didn’t know your taste in movies, so that was ruled out too. We could go on a walk. But there was really only one place that was truly appropriate for a date, and that was the beach. That place held too many bad memories.
Then I struck gold.
Stargazing. It’s a wonder I didn’t think of it sooner.
The day rolled around. You arrived. We set up chairs, drinks. Laughed the night away. Silver streaked the inky blue. I felt secure in your presence. You watched the stars. I watched you. Your delicate smile, the gleam of moonlight on your eyes, deep lakes I was drowning in. Your hair, a mirror image of the natural beauty hanging over us.
“I love you, Stella.” The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.
Your laugh told me I had nothing to worry about. You responded, “I love you too, Abbi.”
You reached out for my hand, and I grabbed it. Security and freedom coursed through my veins. The chapter of life where blue was a sign of weakness is over.
Blue is the colour of liberation.
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27 comments
Wow. This is great, Ana... the ending sentence was so powerful :) great work, nanba :D
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Thanks so much, Sahana!
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I agree with Izzie Q, this was very poetic!!! Great job
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Thanks so much, Svara!
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ANA I LOVE THIS!! Great submission for the prompt and I absolutley loved the last sentence! You have a talent for poetic wording :) i just put out some new stories too! feel free to check them out friend :)
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Thanks so much, Izzie! I’ll definitely check them out!
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"The chapter of life where blue was a sign of weakness is over. Blue is the colour of liberation." *chef's kiss* This story was suggested for my "Critique Circle" and I'm so glad it was! Short and sweet, but altogether lyrical and moving. I can picture Stella and Abbi's lives playing out from where you left off, which is a sign of a great story! I'm sitting here, trying to think of constructive feedback, but I'm truly coming up short. Abbi's journey is beautiful and brave. As someone who struggles with depression, it gave me hope. Hop...
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Awww, wow, thanks so, so, so much! I’m really glad that my work resonated with you on such a level. I opened Reedsy when I was eating breakfast and I already know today will be a good day, thanks again, Mallory! Have a good day/night!
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Ana, thank you for a very clever romcom!
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Haha, no problem!
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Amazing! I enjoyed reading every bit of it. Well done!
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Thanks, Eddie!
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Thanks for liking my story! You're a really good writer!
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Haha, no problem, you’re really good too! I was just gonna read “The Stage is Yours”. It looks good already!
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This is a sweet story. The only critique I could add would be, I wanted more.
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Thanks so much, Catherine!
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Could I bother you to read my series: Rune? If you have time, that would be great! Have a good night! (if it's night where you live)
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Sure! Do you have any feedback for any of my stories? That would be super helpful if you could, thanks!
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None negative, I think you are very talented. I read your story, Friends through fire and I thought it was powerful and well written. I am doing school (at home) so I will have to wait to read more, but I can already tell you are talented. Sorry, I went on a liking spree, I saw you hated them. 😬
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Thanks! Don’t worry about the liking spree, it’s fine. Rune was super well written too, the characters had really distinct personalities and I loved it the whole way through! (By the way, I started off reading then liking, but I ended up just reading the rest and liking afterwards, sorry if I looked like a hypocrite with a like spree, haha)
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I actually struggle with character's personalities, making them all too similar to each other, I feel like I did a little better with Rune. Thank you for your kind words. 😊 😊
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No problem!
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i have MANY things to say: 1. i am SO sorry for going on like sprees, I didn't know you hated them :< 2. this was really cute and poetic. I LOVE IT 3. this is the first romance (or ANY) story where you use 'you' instead of a proper noun or pronoun. i liked it and it was very unique!!!! 4. the setting and plot you picked were very nice too! :> 5. I like your profile pic! :D ~ Amethyst
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Aww thanks, Amethyst! Don’t feel bad, I just wanted to put that out there, and I’m glad you liked the second person! Thanks! - Ana 💕
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Yay, library/bookstore tropes! Honestly, it was either that, or the coffee shop trope, and this seemed like the better option. I was gonna give her a different job, so they’d meet not in a coffee shop/bookstore/library but I couldn’t think of one. ...tropes are tropes for a reason, I guess 🤷🏾♀️
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💯
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☕️ 📚
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