Autumn Orange

Here’s my attempt at some flash fiction. This exercise came via CB  Wentworth’s blog (www.cbwentworth.wordpress.com)  via “Campaign Challenge #1/Fourth Writers Platform Building Campaign” (www.rachaelharrie.blogspot.com).   
The parameters are:
 *200 words or less, *begin with the words Shadows crept along the wall, use the word orange, end with the words everything faded.  Enjoy!

                                                                          Autumn Orange
                                                                                    
          Shadows crept along the wall, blinking, as she glided across the room.  Oblique rays of light came through the windows.  Dark bars, long and parallel, stretched from the line of trees outside, across the floor and up the wall.  Eyes watched from a dark corner, mesmerized.

          Slow and rhythmic, she danced to and fro, around and around the room, swaying, bending, circling, sometimes leaping.  Her body flowed in the grace of movements with a long purpose, her life.  Figure and shade danced.  Reflections fluttered as light passed through beveled glass, colors separated.  Fully awake, the silence of loveliness spoke of delight.  The afternoon glow of autumn orange surrounded her.

          Her shadow dappled.  The pace quickened.  Body flared bright.  Muscles strained and quivered, strength and skill combined. 

          Obstruction!  The bars darkened.  She bit her lip.  Burnt red turned to rust.  Without light, there is no shadow.  Twisting, her foot caught.  Her partner mimicked her stumble.  As the shadow became less, the flower wilted.  The eyes closed. 

          A bell  began to ring, insistent and loud.  The sun faded.  The mood faded.  Everything faded.

Flash Fiction: Autumn Orange by LR; Word Count 181.