Reading Fluff Novels & Stories

“He never appreciated me. I did everything for him, and he just threw me away.” I listened, nodding sympathetically, while inside, I relished every bitter word. “It sounds like you’ve been through a lot,” I said, my tone soothing. “But now you have a chance to start fresh.” Flora’s eyes sparkled with newfound enthusiasm. “Yes! Thank you so much, Anne.” I smiled, belittling her enthusiasm in my mind. “Mention not, Flora.” As Flora continued to praise me and our newfound alliance, I let her words wash over me, amused by her desperation. She was licking my feet, practically groveling for this opportunity, and I savored every moment.

It was Saturday so families were around, it was mid afternoon and they'd been led to a table that had an outdoor view. They had seafood and pasta before finally heading to Ikeja city Mall's cinema where they watched whiplash. "Oh Allah that was the best movie I've ever watched and I'll ever watch." Amirah said as they trudged out of the cinema, it was early evening. "What did you think about Fletcher? I actually think he was an asshole." Muhammad said as they stood on queue in front of an icecream stand. "I don't really know about that, I think he had good intentions though." Amirah said.

I stare at the text for a long time, watching the words blur and sharpen on the screen. Americus still sleeps, one arm thrown over her face, her sequined sleep mask catching the gray morning light filtering through the window. Riley left early for the library, her departure marked only by the ghost of her presence - a coffee mug in the sink, her bed hastily made. The room sits quiet around me. Waiting. I type back: *okay.* Then I place my phone face down and spend the next four hours attempting to read my American Literature notes, retaining approximately none of it. The words swim across the page like figures on ice - familiar shapes that refuse to coalesce into meaning.

"Then let it be. The moment the judge announces you divorced you and that monster. I will wife you." "The same day?" "The same day." Unintentionally, Flora felt a heat eating her inner parts. The heat was no longer strange. She knew what it was. Claude's words made her hungry for his body and thirsty for his kisses. Unintentionally she looked at his full red lips and bit her lower lip. Claude read her body language like an open book. He immediately responded by touching her lips which looked as sweet as fresh berries. If he squeezes those berries, would sugary juice come out of them? Gently with his fingertips, he tapped on her lips. But he suddenly stopped as a single tear fell out of her b

Clay’s P.O.V Delicate. That was the only word that I could conjure up as I looked down at Flora on my bed. Her long red hair was sprawled across the cream white sheets like ripples of liquid silk. Her skin looked pale in the moonlight, but as I traced my fingers up her sides, I was struck anew with just how soft her skin was. Had I ever touched a skin quite as soft, as delicate as hers? I couldn’t remember and I realized with a start that I didn’t want to. The moonlight streamed in through the open windows and touched her skin, making it glow. It was like even the moon was her lover tonight.