In this series, I will take the Word of the Day from Dictionary.com and craft a short piece of creative writing around it. My goal is to embrace the meaning of the word in some unique way, all the while trying out different styles, rhythms and characterizations. It is as much an exercise in creativity as it is an exploration of grammar. Enjoy!
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By Alex Seise
She turned suddenly, looking back at the worn trail behind her. Trampled yellow weeds and shrubs heavy with ripe, fleshy berries flanked the path’s blurry boundaries. Dust was flung upwards into the air after each passing wayfarer stepped forward, catching on the wind and twirling high into the branches above. This traveler was no exception, etching a series of prints into the dry canvas of the earth while sending disturbed debris up, up, up. The specks would travel far, forever ripped from the comforts of their long-held places in the world. They were destined to land on faraway stones or grassy patches, carrying with them memories of every coming step they’d feared on that old little road. But the path behind didn’t matter, not for the dirt and not for the traveler; the place ahead did. She turned her head again, wagged her tail and continued her happy gait back in the direction of home.
