Character: "Miss Raymond" from "A Constellation of Four Lonely Planets" (A piece I started writing for NaNoWriMo 2015; Have not finished, to date [planning to though].)

I sip my coffee in the corner booth, listening

to the traffic whisk by, the tall windows marbled

and crinkling the lights that reflect through, rain

pouring down the glass, washing away

residue dust, insect carcasses, and the flutter

of conversation within the shop; I wish it could

clear my mind of the clutter forming in the attic

of my soul, clouding the crevices and fogging

the round windows, crossed with wood and painted

in the silhouettes of my memories;

the aroma of coffee beans and the crisp scent

of freshly baked pastries whistled about me,

curling into my head, filling it with warmth

and renewed vigor; I took up my pen and paper,

scrawling notes upon paper, black on white,

each ink splotch a bird of paradise, standing

in silent beauty, until a dark raven arrived to scrape

everything away, taking everything, mauling

and clawing, talons raised and deadly; I shut my eyes

in fear of the blow,

that never comes, the hammer upon the bell

that tolls within my head, missing by a hairsbreadth,

my breath clouding; I've left the comfort of the coffee

shop and find myself on a ledge, peering over into

a misted rift of swirling dark depths, shoes slipping,

toes plunging over the edge, until I feel a grip on my arm

that grabs me, pulling me over the edge; I open my eyes,

lids shattering back and I find myself in my seat,

coffee in hand, cold sweat upon my brow, as my mind

slowly rolls into a confused jumble of tangled thoughts.