heatwave power outage where I live has me thinking about sneezes by candlelight…
A and B are sprawled on the couch on a hot and stormy summer evening waiting for the power to come back on. Gentle candlelight illuminates the room around them. B has been suffering all day from terrible allergies, and with no a/c, the windows have to be wide open to survive the heatwave. B is almost constantly building up for an itchy fit, their eyes watering and nostrils flaring wildly.
“Hiihh..haH! heEAASCHIOOOO!!” B sneezes openingly, accidentally blowing a candle out with the force of their expulsion.
They sniffle and gaze towards A with wet and heavy eyelids, already inhaling sharply again as their nose tries desperately to expel the persistent tickle.
“Ahh-hiihh..HEAASHIOOOO!!!”
“Oh baby…you’re so itchy,” A gently wipes a tear from B’s cheek and then leans to grab the lighter to relight the blown out candle, hoping the power comes back soon so they can close the windows for poor B.
















