Last week at Phoenix Writers, we had a session on endings. I realised after I wrote this piece, that it would serve rather better as an opening, though I am still not happy with the name Mij!
Even the iguana looked warm. He blinked at her and waited. Maybe hoping for something to change. Maybe just waiting. Bella liked visiting him. She didn’t ask why. Questions took away the magic of standing still in places. She spent her life selling curiosity. She preached that analysis buried everything. ‘Get out of your coffins!’ Wasn’t that her mantra? But she felt irritated today. Bloody mad. So here she was. Clinically alive. But caged. Beyond the reach of anyone.
‘Surprise me later’, she said to her clients at the Bella Vista, and left them to the beach and the sea.
The iguana moved towards the glass. He smelt of lizard. Hot reptile. He ignored her now, his eyes searching the shadows behind her.‘Be like that then’ said Bella.
His tongue flicked out, exploring.
‘What’s your real name? said Bella reading the plaque on the enclosure.
‘’Iguana. Iguana is a little limited don’t you think?’’ ..
The eyes continued to look over her shoulder unblinking. Bella shrugged and was about to leave when she became aware of her own skin. How fragile it felt. So transient yet burnished. She sensed it must be hers still, but now at a distance. As if she was a borrower. She closed her eyes because it seemed necessary. Beneath her dark tan, other colours flickered like lava. Grey, inky stains wandered along her arms, pulsing. She felt a rush of pleasure and opened her eyes, unsurprised to see the iguana swallowed by the darkness and the glass transformed into a huge mirror. There she was on fire: raging colour, her skin singing with sensation. Her heart sounded faster, elated. Something breathed on her hair. behind her A zephyr? She smelt lavender and dirty vanilla. Thyme too. The gloom moved in the glass moved, became a tall shape. Elegant yet unsettled, awkward.
“Hello” said the shape in the reflection.
Something moved on the shape’s shoulder and began to chatter.
Bella remained still, lost in her new skin.
“Did you like that excursion then? “asked the shape.
Bella paused, then nodded slowly to the reflection still enjoying her skin.
“Good” said the shape moving into a tall silhouette.’’ I hoped you might. My name’s Mij, at the moment anyway, and this fine creature in the fedora, is my protégée, Mr Fitz.
