Dreaming of a Kansas Sky

Muse-d: Some vague day in 2005 - or maybe early 2006. Most definitely before now.

Dreaming of a Kansas Sky

I was standing in your apartment, watching the rising sun lighten the sky. We were talking, casually, drinking coffee and having a quick bite, and generally doing what people do in these situations. I turned my back to you to fully see the sky when the black line began to descend on us.

I yelled for you to run,
For us to run,
As that black line of clouds filled the sky.
Nothing that dark -
Running that hard -
Menacing that thoroughly -
Could be safe and before I could take a step, one giant funnel cloud spun together and began eating up the earth.

It tore a jagged line, visible from miles away, and I could feel the rending in my bones. I gasped and fell to my knees. When I turned, you were gone. When I blinked, the sky was pale blue and the earth was unharmed.

My coffee had grown cold and my breakfast lay forgotten. Your apartment was empty again. I cleaned up our dishes, gathered my things, and quietly locked the door behind me.

The regularity of these violent storms is frightening to me. When you asked me why I moved away, my explanation was that I was too afraid of Kansas. That answer hurt us both a little less.