Page 40 - 2022-2023 Creative Writing

An Outdoor Event in Bad Weather.

I stand before my reflection, a silver, polished dress with a stoic structure hanging off my shoulders pitifully. ‘It’s just a
party,' they said. 'I don't think it is,' I thought, anxiety filling my gut. I look over to the cracked window, where the dim
stars fill the dark sky like speckles of ice. The hissing sound of wind hitting against the window overcomes the shuffling
sound of people walking beneath.

I head towards the exit—to an impending stampede of people thrilled for the recreational party. It's stifling, being
among this many people, their faces blurring between excited screaming and hushed laughs. My eyes scan the group

of people, men with ruggedly handsome faces and fine-boned shoulders, and women with slim bodies cradling drinks
in their hands. Nearby, a group of teens gather around the bonfire, their eyes gleaming with the reflection of the blazing
fire and they squeal when it lights up more.

The ocean beside me sounds calm—its undulating waves crashing against the shore and the precipitous cliff. It's

eccentric, the cliff, perhaps a little scary. The seagulls circle overhead, their cries mingling with every other sound. The
party is set near a thick forest, on the coast, in a sweltering summer. Delirious indeed—the condition of this party.
Without thinking too much, I sidle over to the air buzzing with excitement, seeking my enjoyment.

The cloud looms above the distant horizon, a dark smudge at its peaks. I shiver, random goosebumps filling my body. I
ponder about leaving while sitting carefully on a bench and closing my eyes, the chattering people getting lost in the
background. After a while, I abruptly feel a whipping wind slash across my cheeks and open my eyes. The environment
buzzes with something deleterious, people's chattering seemingly inexorable and the hollering sound of them loudens.

The roiling cloud fills my periphery as I hear the thunderclap reverberating.

People yelp and gasp in sudden change and all their eyes focus on the impending storm above the ocean. Its shades

of white and gray and black trigger a sullen mood in the air as I feel tiny prickles of water on my skin—the beginning of
an absolute sign of chaos. The women, the men, and the teens struggle to leave among the rush and one thing is clear;
the faded vibrant experiences of the party are replaced by the destruction of everything.

10A Naraa N.