Blast Area

The blast was larger than anticipated: beds of limestone can dip in odd directions. The ground shook with release.

In the yellow house next to the quarry, the crash of a plate rolling off a plate rail & onto the tile floor was followed by a couple seconds of silence, then the trucks yelping into reverse.

The windows were all open. Raindrops began to blow against the curtains. An index finger resumed its pilgrimage, dipping into the hollow at the base of a throat too frozen with joy & terror to make a sound.