Welcome back, Six Sunday compadres. I’m glad Bartholomew made so many of you laugh last week. Sometimes he’s so droll you can scratch the word “dry” right on him.
Today we’re picking up in Flight where we left off: Bartholomew has awakened from a nightmare (in which he remembered his own death), and Claire, unfortunately, remains in his bed.
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He splashed his face at the washbasin and rinsed his mouth. The acrid taste of Claire lingered on his tongue. It mixed with the memory of Lydia’s transformative blood—a viscous potion in which his own stolen soul had comingled with the Catcher’s. One last swig of water, and then Bartholomew spat regret.
He wiped his hands on a towel, moved to the tall windows, and pulled back a heavy blue curtain. The late winter sun was setting, and humanity hurried past on the sidewalks and streets below.
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I hope you’ll take a moment to visit the official Six Sentence Sunday site and follow the links to more writers’ snippets. SSS is a participatory sport.
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Love that he spat regret! Great way with words! Love it.
Hello!!! I nominated you, Monica, for the Lucky Seven award. Woohoo!!! Post is up on my website and I will tweet in am. Bye!
OMG, my little girl and I have been sicky-sickos this week, which is why I’m *finally* getting back to you. Thanks for thinking of me, hon! Mwah!
Oh, sorry you’ve been sick. I got sick tonight from oysters. yuck! Finally, I’m settled in. Swinging by a just a few…
Fantastic description!
Absolutely poignant, and the way you describe everything here is simply delightful! Great job, girl!
Aw, thanks, Zee! You made me smile this morning. See? –>
I love the “spat regret ” line. It hints at emotional drama and I’m always drawn to that. Very intriguing.
Ha! I’ve got emotional drama in spades, Hallie. Thanks!
Love the spat regret line. Really, the whole thing.
Thank you, Eleri. That’s a lovely compliment.
Beautiful transition piece, I love the details (esp. the line about the acrid taste of Claire on his mouth).
Thank you, Steven. I appreciate your feedback about details, since that’s something for which you have a keen eye.
Lovely description and word choices.
Thank you, Laura.
Oooh, no idea what’s going on, but it sounds complicated and interesting!
LOL! Definitely complicated, Sidney, and I’m glad you find it interesting.
Love your writing. So strong. It has the feel of a “classic.”
OMG! What a lovely compliment, Cara! You’ve got me grinning from ear to ear.
Love the wonderful description that immediately pulls us into the story! Great Six!
Thanks for the feedback, Karyn. It lets me know that I’m getting it right!
Blood as a viscous potion – lovely! Poor Bartholomew. He’s given up so much for something he doesn’t appear to want
It’s true, Elin. Bartholomew wasn’t given a choice about his existence, and he’ll have to pass that curse on to free himself.
Such a poignant scene. It made me want to go rescue him! Loved your vivid description.
Aw, that’s sweet of you, Cate. Not to worry, Bartholomew doesn’t stay down for long; self-pity is not in his nature.
Poor guy! Is there any way out for him? Nice touch of him noticing “humanity” hurrying in the streets.
There is a way out, Kate, and he’s working on it. Thanks!
‘The acrid taste of Claire lingered on his tongue.’ – bleurgh! That made me want to spit too!
LOL! Yeah, I’d spit out Claire, too. She’s nasty.
Intriguing imagery, especially the ‘acrid taste’.
I’m glad you liked that, Paula. Thanks!
I adore your voice, Monica. The semi-finalist award is so deserving.
Sounds like Barth has many demons to conquer. Sensational six, as always.
Oh, thank you, Sandra. Really. That’s a wonderful thing to say. And, yes, Bartholomew has many demons to slay, starting with the one in the bed behind him.
Wow. The sense of solitude–whether forced or self-imposed–is so strong in this six. And like others, I loved the “spat regret” line. It’s perfect in its simplicity. Bartholomew is such a complex character. I really enjoy how you “peel” away those layers like he’s an onion.
Poor Bartholomew! He is well and truly “caught” Loved the language here. He makes such a lonely figure. Great six, as USUAL!!
He’s even more bound up by circumstance than you know, K.E. But, don’t worry. Bartholomew is like a cat — quick witted, fleet footed, well armed, and deadly patient.
What a catching snippet. I love how his detachment is described at the end, it really struck something with me. Can’t wait to see more!
Oh, that’s a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Keeley.
I love this six! “spat regret” hooked me, great use of emotions here
Thank you, Melynda. As I told Wendy, I played with that line a lot and finally settled on simplicity, so I’m glad it resonated with you!
He is such a complex character, I love these snippets!
Thank you, Lisa, for always stopping by and leaving feedback. I’m always glad to “see” you!
Great descriptive writing. Now I feel a strong desire to start shopping for a Victorian washstand. The one in your photo is lovely.
LOL! I got the pic off eBay, Jess. But I think it was an old sale.
“He spat regret.” I love that
great six, as always.
You never fail to let your readers know time, smells. The memories of Claire will haunt Bartholomew. Love your descriptions — you know your characters!
Every description helps to convey Bartholomew’s mood. Well done.
Thanks, Jessica. He’s a moody bastard.
He’s a fascinating character, is Bartholomew. Really looking forward to seeing where this is all going. Love ‘the acrid taste of Claire’. Great 6.
Thank you, Kylie! He *is* fascinating and never ceases to amaze and surprise me.
A very emotion charged six. I liked the way he watched the people from behind the glass at the end, completed the sense of disconnection he was feeling.
Thanks, Goran. I’m glad you got that disconnect. (I’m often surprised by what readers do and don’t take away from a scene.)