26/09/201129/10/2013Debbie Johansson44 Comments

My Sweet Imago – 2nd Campaigner Challenge.

Throughout the Platform Building Campaign, Rachael is holding a couple of challenges. I didn’t partake in the first challenge, so I thought I’d try my hand at the second challenge. And what a doozy it is!

Here are the rules:-

Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:

include the word ‘imago‘ in the title

include the following 4 random words: ‘miasma‘, ‘lacuna‘, ‘oscitate‘, ‘synchronicity‘

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post. For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

So after searching frantically in the dictionary, I came up with something using all the requirements in the challenge. Here’s my entry:-

MY SWEET IMAGO

I struggle not to oscitate as I watch another one being wheeled in. It has been a long night; this will be the last.

I gaze upon the face of the man in front of me and my hands become clammy. The miasma emanating from his body fills my nostrils. His mouth is open; a dark lacuna releasing its final scream. That mouth had kissed me longingly; hungrily, the touch of his hands a sweet caress.

Childhood memories flitter through my mind of lazy summer days and melted ice-creams, of promises to be together forever, always. Recent memories of drug abuse and alcohol induced stupors; promises that they would never happen again. Tears do not form behind my eyes and cloud my better judgement. They did not a few months ago when I last said goodbye. They will not fail me now.

A slow smile creeps upon me; he would have loved the synchronicity of this moment. It’s like holding up a mirror; only his choice of drug was different to mine. Were they really the cause of all his lies, deceit and ultimate betrayal?

I take a firm grip upon the scalpel and begin to cut.

* * *

Winners of this challenge will be determined solely on the basis of your votes. If you like my entry you can vote for it here, (I’m No.102), where you can also check out others. Best of luck everyone!

44 thoughts on “My Sweet Imago – 2nd Campaigner Challenge.”

elizabethannewrites 26/09/2011 — 3:19 am

That was so well done! It captivated me from beginning to end, then made me go back and read it again.
(Post author)

Debbie Johansson 26/09/2011 — 3:38 am

Thanks Elizabeth Anne. Good to know it captivated you enough for you to read it a second time. 🙂 It certainly was challenging, but a whole lot of fun!
Shannon Lawrence 26/09/2011 — 4:57 am

Fun, in a disturbing kind of way. Well written! I’ve “liked” this one.

Mine is number 106: http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/2011/09/platform-building-campaign-2nd.html
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:51 am
  
  Hi Shannon. Thanks for reading and I’m so glad you ‘liked’ it. I’ll stop by and read yours now.
Catherine Johnson 26/09/2011 — 5:33 am

Wow, that is disturbing! Great job.
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:53 am
  
  Hi Catherine. Disturbing – that’s how my mind seems to work! 😉 I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for reading.
doreen 26/09/2011 — 5:33 am

Oh how evil in a really good way! I enjoyed this from start to finish…
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:24 am
  
  Hi Doreen. Evil in a good way – I like the sound of that! I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Dimity Powell 26/09/2011 — 10:56 am

Loved it Debbie. Entrancing and full of promise. Voted but wish I had the time to read them all!
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:55 am
  
  I’m glad you liked it Dimity, and thanks for voting. I wish I had the time to read them all too, but I’m hoping to get through them all. There are so many good entries and there’s plenty more to come!
K.T. Hanna (@KTHanna) 26/09/2011 — 2:00 pm

Oh I love this one. There’s heartache hidden behind the darker portions of the thoughts. In a way the final line feels almost vindictive.

Well done!
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:29 am
  
  Hi K.T. Thanks for stopping by and reading my entry – I’m glad you liked it. I was aiming for vindictive, so I’m glad that one came through! 😉
Joanna Marple 26/09/2011 — 4:28 pm

Disturbing and powerfully crafted. Well done!
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:58 am
  
  Hi Joanna. I appreciate your kind words. Thanks for reading.
F.E. Sewell (@FESewell) 26/09/2011 — 5:34 pm

It’s incredible how you’ve woven the two character’s lives together in just 200 words.

Well done!
1. (Post author)
  
  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:34 am
  
  Hi F.E. Thanks for that – it wasn’t exactly easy in 200 words, so I enjoyed the challenge. Thanks for reading!
bridgetstraub 26/09/2011 — 8:52 pm

Oh gross. That’s a little too well done. Now I have to read another to get that image out of my head. Mine is #29
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:37 am
  
  Hi Bridget. I’m sorry you found it a bit disturbing – I think I’ve been watching too much ‘Silent Witness’ of late. Thanks for reading anyway, and I’ll be sure to check out your entry.
Sonia Lal 26/09/2011 — 9:23 pm

Kind of disturbing, but still good to read!
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 2:00 am
  
  Hi Sonia. I’m glad you thought it was good, despite the subject matter. Thanks for reading!
Sheri L. Swift 26/09/2011 — 9:29 pm

sad and yet can be so true.
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 1:44 am
  
  Hi Sheri. You’re so right; I’m glad it struck a chord. Thanks for reading.
Jen 26/09/2011 — 11:21 pm

Wow, this is very dark, but so beautifully written! Fantastic use of the chellenge words.
Mine is #3.
(Post author)

Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 2:05 am

Hi Jen. I appreciate your kind words; thanks for reading. There are so many great entries and I’m aiming to read them all. I’ll stop by to read yours now. Good luck!
Damyanti 27/09/2011 — 2:56 am

My earlier comment did not save :(. Voting for you.

——
Join me at the Rule of Three Writers’ Blogfest!
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 9:47 am
  
  Thanks for reading and a big thank you for voting for me Damyanti!
Lena Corazon 27/09/2011 — 4:26 am

Debbie, that was riveting. The level of description is wonderful, and the whole piece just grabbed me and pulled me in. Great job!
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  Debbie Johansson 27/09/2011 — 9:51 am
  
  Hi Lena. Thank you for your kind words – it’s very much appreciated. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Miranda Hardy 27/09/2011 — 2:03 pm

This is such a good story, very vivid scene. I enjoyed it.
1. (Post author)
  
  Debbie Johansson 28/09/2011 — 9:27 am
  
  Hi Miranda. I’m glad you thought the scene was vivid, I appreciate that. This particular challenge was quite tricky. Thanks for reading!
David Powers King 27/09/2011 — 4:50 pm

Oh wow! What a disturbing last line. I enjoyed how you revealed the details.

Great job, Debbie! 🙂
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  Debbie Johansson 28/09/2011 — 9:31 am
  
  Hi David. I appreciate your kind words. I’ve been reading so many other entries and am amazed at everyone’s take on this challenge. It’s been great. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Dawn 30/09/2011 — 7:56 pm

Wow. Very riveting. I agree with David…it was disturbing.

The Write Soil

Mine is #50.
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  Debbie Johansson 01/10/2011 — 6:27 am
  
  Hi Dawn. Thanks for commenting and thanks for reading. I’ll be reading your story very soon! 🙂
Raelyn Barclay 30/09/2011 — 8:19 pm

Bravo. You had me complete captivated. Great job with the challenge.
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  Debbie Johansson 01/10/2011 — 7:05 am
  
  Hi Raelyn. Thanks so much for your post and thanks for reading. I’m getting a bit behind on reading all the entries – I’ll be reading yours soon! 🙂
Sher A Hart (@SherAHart) 04/10/2011 — 3:03 am

Ooh, great job. Espcially like that 2nd paragraph & word use of lacuna. And then the final cut to the relationship. Masterful. Oh, forgot to say if you didn’t enter the chocolate contest on my blog yet, you still can. There’s a tab at the top.
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  Debbie Johansson 04/10/2011 — 3:31 am
  
  Hi Sher. Thanks for reading and commenting on my entry – glad you liked it. Chocolate contest?! I’ll be visiting your blog right now! 🙂
Fairview 06/10/2011 — 8:44 pm

good job. I love the scapel bit at the end that made everything suddenly clear to me.
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  Debbie Johansson 07/10/2011 — 12:41 am
  
  Hi Fairview. Thanks for reading and commenting – much appreciated.
Karen 10/10/2011 — 11:33 pm

That is so creepy and well done. The words seemed to fit perfectly. Great job!

#189
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  Debbie Johansson 11/10/2011 — 1:54 am
  
  Thanks for stopping by and reading my entry, I’m glad you like it. I look forward to reading yours soon. Best of luck!
Cherie Colyer 11/10/2011 — 11:48 pm

Oh, so creepy. Love the use of the words. Great job!
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  Debbie Johansson 13/10/2011 — 3:14 am
  
  Hi Cherie. Thanks for reading my entry – I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂