Flash Fiction Day 10: WOMAN.

Prompt: Mind controlling wallpaper creates happy ending.

She was told from the day she could understand words that she only needs to be pretty. Growing up, she made herself small; she spoke quietly, dressed modestly, and did what was expected of her. She went to university for an accounting degree, abandoning her “childish hobbies”. As an adult, she talks only to agree with what is being said even when she disagrees, she wears neutrals and never too much makeup, and performs her office duties without complaining. When she gets home, she kicks off her shoes and rests on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling in the quiet of her small apartment. She eventually gets up, makes dinner, eats, and sleeps. The next day, she wakes up, goes to work, and comes home. She does this until, one evening, during her usual post-work lie-down, she feels the urge to do something unusual. She wants to turn on the radio and dance. The desire to do these things is stronger than her need to maintain a routine, and so, she gets up, opens the window, and starts swaying to some tune from the 60s playing on the radio. The soft breeze from outside flows gently into the apartment and into her hair as she unties it. When the music changes to something more upbeat, she takes off her white dress shirt so she can move her arms freely. Eyes closed, she stretches her fingers upwards, feeling the song through her bare feet on the hardwood floor. Her heart is alive in her chest, her head is light, and her face is glowing. She does not notice when the songs change, or when a bird flies into her apartment through the open window. It sits on the back of a chair and chirps. She opens her eyes to a room dipped in sunset oranges and yellows. Coming back to the room and the present moment, she walks over to the kitchen to grab some sunflower seeds for the visiting chickadee. It doesn’t seem to be afraid of her presence—far from it. It flies onto her open palm and starts enjoying its little snack. She is unsure why she started dancing in the first place, but as she stands there, bathed in warm sunlight with a bird feeding from her hand and Peggy Lee’s sultry voice filling the room, she feels at peace. She will wear a yellow, flowery shirt to work tomorrow, resign, and resume painting after years of longing to hold a paintbrush. 

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It's women's history month! In the UK anyway, I think. This piece was inspired by Florence Given's Women Don't Owe You Pretty and the amazing people I've met this week thanks to her. Women are amazing and that's that on that. Be like other girls! Girls are wonderful, smart, complex, talented, and supportive! Another thing I've learned recently (from leena norms on YouTube) is if you're jealous of someone, try to understand why, because they're likely doing something you want to be doing. Admire them, figure out what it is you also want to do, and go after it.