‘Genius in a Bottle’ Prompted Writing Challenge

Her Birthday Presence

GiaB writing prompt #2–3

We stole a moment. Hiding from her party guests, blissfully we aged.

I can’t understand my first crush, even as I remember it now. I was only six years of age. Far too young and innocent to even understand the concept or experience of intimacy. Yet, as I remember the sense of longing and pining for her, or the surge of trembling that electrocuted my body when she crossed my line of sight, it couldn’t have been anything else. There was definitely an element of infatuation but there was no sexual desire as I barely understood the differences between male and female at that age, let alone yearned for the conjoining of yin and yang. Yet, I was happier than Christmas morning whenever I saw her.

I didn’t want to be anywhere else but her side. I wanted to be alone with her while the rest of the world disappeared. At least until my mum called for me and told me it was time to go. I wanted quality time, to enjoy being in her presence.

Her birthday party was agony for me. I was in stuffy clothes and I was among a throng of similarly uncomfortable kids milling around a backyard. There were games and junk food to keep us docile. I didn’t want a bar of it, however. I wanted her. Only.

Floating around on the grass in a frilly dress looking like birthday confection, she barely noticed me. I was one in a faceless throng of kids she had already been made to say hello to.

Other kids had a little fun. Some immediately got mired in problems of surprise toileting or firmly obstructed facial orifices. I remember one kid was getting verbally educated about the wrongs of diving into grass and soil in brand new clothes. Everyone else had something to do. I stood painfully shy in a corner wishing she could hear my chest pounding. I remember being mortally wounded that she could not.

While I was having a miserable time, my fingers closed around a soft, warm hand and I was pulled away from the tragedy I had been invited to. Right in the middle of such pain, a truly wonderful experience was rapidly blossoming, and I needed a moment to process what was happening. She had taken my hand, being far more brazen than I had any idea how to be, and led me running to a corner of the back of the old house where she lived. Her other tiny, sublime hand creaked open a paint chipped door and pulled me inside… an outhouse.

A horrid venue any other day but that day. On that day it was a paradise that burst through my most imaginative fantasies. We puffed as out of breath children do. Those deep breaths were as tantalising to me then as post-coital ones are now. We stood panting in silence. Smiling. Still holding hands.

If I had wanted to let go, I would have started to consider whether she did. I didn’t want to let go. Those palms stayed pressed together and we couldn’t have been happier about it.

It was the slowest few minutes I have ever experienced in life. In our stolen time we had a lifetime of experience together but we were missing from the party for a mere few moments. Eventually, that profound intimacy had to come to an end. By the time we emerged from the shack I was older, and more knowledgeable. I had lost some of my innocence and I looked upon life in a manner more typical of an older soul. I never forgot how rapidly I changed on that day.

We never really had any other moments after that. Our little shared experience became a lifetime one, and a chapter closed. I would see her for a few months on the train many years later when we going to school but we were different people by then. I looked over at her many times wondering whether she remembered me. I always convinced myself that she didn’t. Made it easier I suppose.

Today, she has had a life, a grand career, gotten married and raised children. I still wonder if she ever thought of me after that moment. I wonder if I remain in her memory as a treasured experience un-faded by passing years. I just think of her and wonder whether I helped her become who she is today, the way she did for me.

The Challenge

We invite writers to produce a piece of poetry, fiction or non-fiction on the theme of your First Crush.

This prompt will close on 29th September, 2021 at 9:00AM PST/PDT. At which time, the next prompt will be released.

The Guidelines

We cannot publish pieces or reward writers who self publish or publish at another publication, so those pieces have to remain external to the challenge. Only pieces submitted to Genius in a Bottle will be considered for the challenge. If inviting other writers from outside the publication, please ensure they are aware of this.

Poetry is to be limited to 30 lines but can be in any style. Fiction and non-fiction submissions are to be capped at 750 words.

Please refer to the prompt in the subtitle. Feel free to copy this as a template: GiaB prompt # [insert prompt number and theme here].

When submitting, please ensure that one of the 5 tags is GiaBprompt. Please ensure a second tag is Poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, as appropriate.

We would like to become exposed to writers and pieces that you have enjoyed in all of Medium. Please tag up to ten writers whose pieces you have enjoyed recently, or who you feel may enjoy participating in this challenge.

For further information pertaining to the challenge, please refer to the rules and guidelines.

And away we go. We look forward to enjoying the paradise of the written word with you all.

Victor Sarkin

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