Reflections

To the untrained eye it seems like there isn't much going on, but to me I feel like there's something reflecting in this man's eyes, some unnamed emotion.

I feel like there's something he wants to tell me but he can't express it through words, I was thinking that maybe you can help me figure what he wants to say?

Or am I reading too much into this this pic? Am I seeing something that just isn't there?

Photo Description:A close-up photo of two shirtless men facing each other. On the right, one leans forward, head turned away from the viewer, his right arm behind the other's neck to cup his chin from the far side. The other looks at him with beseeching blue eyes, a forearm sideways against his chest.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Hot Summer Days"event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Read the story
.

__________

Genre:contemporary

Tags:gay m/m, male beauty, shyness, first love, hurt/comfort, disability, despair, love

Word Count:4,713

EDIT Oct 2013:Okay, Reflections has been published for over two years, so it's now time to let you in on its secret. When I pondered how to do justice to the prompt, I decided at the same time to experiment, to challenge myself - to write my first short story with the omission of the two laziest words in an author's lexicon.

What do you normally say or write about something in present or past tense? Do you say it was? I bet you do, like all of us. Like Snoopy's It was a dark and stormy knight.(or was it night?) So I wrote Reflections by omitting those lazy words and mostly in present tense.

Was it hard? You bet IT WAS. Lol. (You don't believe me? Then YOU try writing just one page. Haha.) It took me five weeks to get it started and I admit I stuffed up the opening with some big and fancifulwords while I tried to get the flow going. Finally, I submitted it - all 4500 words - three weeks and two extensions past original deadline.

So that is its secret and the reason why Reflections is like it is, like it or hate it.

One day I hope to extend Ben and Tony's tale, perhaps by filling in the time gaps caused by the panic filled, ever-nearing deadlines. Maybe you have some ideas you'd like to see. If so, please let me know. ~Justin