Fragments Gallery
A Flip of a Coin
A coin rose through the air with a clear metallic ring, it hovered for a fragment of a second and then fell, landing softly on the jacket lying on the table, its fall cushioned by the green fabric. A hand reached out and picked the loonie out of its bed. The hand passed the coin between its fingers, feeling the coin's texture, feeling its smooth cool. Then firmly the coin was balanced once more on the hand's thumb, there was a faint click as the coin once more rose into the air.
The young woman shivered as the cool wind splattered her with droplets of water. Briefly she paused in her actions as she stared at a bead of water that had formed on her arm, fascinated by the gleaming sphere of liquid. After a moment, almost as though it were nervous and unsure of where it should go, the drop quivered and then slid down her skin. Then it paused again, hanging to the bottom of her arm, one last grasp at safety. And it fell. A teardrop falling to the deck. She glanced into the rain outside the porch and then looked back at the coin in her hand. She sighed and flipped the coin again. It arced up through the air and began to fall back into the jacket.
"Tails," she murmured and closed her eyes as the coin was engulfed by the soft folds of cloth.
Opening her eyes she looked at the coin. Out of is nest of cloth swam a loon. Carefully she pulled the small piece of metal from the cloth, staring at the engraved image. She stared at it for a moment more and then balanced it on her thumb. With a flick it sailed once more through the air.
"Tails."
The coin hit the cloth and there it was again. Three words showed; Canada, dollar and 2011. 2011... things had been so much simpler back then. With a loon on water and an island in the background it was a vista not too dissimilar from the land around herself. She looked out into the falling rain once more. Past the old grey wood railing and over a short expanse of muddy grass lay a small lake. In the lake's center lay a small island, adorned with an old picnic table, placed there so long ago that no one knew anymore who had left it out there.
She reached out and picked the coin from the cloth once more. There was a faint clink as the coin was launched again.
"Heads," she murmured, closing her eyes as the piece of metal fell into the jacket, slowing revolving as gravity took effect.
Her eyes opened. There was the Queen, nestled in the creased fabric.
"You're pretty good at that."
She started and looked towards the door of the cabin where her uncle stood. He had been pretty much a second father to her for as long as she could remember. Normally she would have smiled but now…
Clink.
"Tails," she whispered.
A loon showed once more.
"I'm sorry lass for what happened; loss is always hard to deal with."
She turned away from him and looked out at the picnic table secluded on that little island. Only a few days ago she had been happy. Eating lunch on that table they had been happy.
She stayed silent, a tear forming in the corner of her eye. She turned away so he wouldn't see.
"It was just bad luck, dumb bad luck that caused this, if it had just been a moment later..." her uncle trailed off.
"Was it luck? Or is there fate?" she whispered, picking up the coin again. Staring at it she listened to the gentle patter of the rain on the lake. She smelled the clean fresh scent of the late evening rain. She felt numb. They had been part of her life for so long and now they were gone. She picked up her jacket and stood. Walk, she needed to walk. Slowly she settled the jacket around her shoulders.
"I'll be back in a bit."
As she turned to leave she tossed the coin down onto the table.
"Heads," she whispered and then turned and walked out into the rain.
The coin landed on the table. The uncle sadly looked out after his sister's daughter and then walked over to the table. He bent to pick up the coin but stopped and frowned at the side of the coin that showed. He looked out after his niece again with a thoughtful expression.