Glockenspiel...

Night was spreading. The clock tower sang in the light of the moons rays, ticking down time. Time--and people would be moving in line with the clocks chimes. The cafes lined the streets waiting with steaming urns of coffee and tea. Waiting, waiting for the crowds to come and sip the liquid down with their lips. But now... Now the streets hummed with the quiet vibrations of anticipation. The breeze whispered with the trees of all the journey's and places yet to be touched as it pushed the last of the day's clouds away for the stars to shine.

Petra sat motionless on a bench. She was staring at the towering clock--the Glockenspiel. With each tick of the second hand, each inching move of the minute hand, her eyes blinked--not able to fathom how time could move on. Tick-tock.

The barista in the cafe had shuffled past her, not willing to serve, as if she wasn't there. The tables lay empty and yet no words were spoken, no water offered. So Petra had moved, moved to the bench, and was now stuck to listen to the empty streets, staring at time as it past uncomfortably by. Everything was empty and she wondered if time had played a trick on her: Was she early?

Then the bells began to dance and with each echoing chime, the flags waved high on the tower. People flooded the streets, hailing each other to stop, take a moment to converse. The cafes filled and Petra heard of daily routines, spoken in unison behind her. It was all behind her. Her eyes didn't leave the clock as a long black car pulled up in front of her. The car door opened and the lean man in his gray suit looked down on her,

"It's time."

Petra stood and took in the last gleam of the hour hand shifting. Time passed by as she stepped into the back of the hearse. Tick-tock--nothing stopped.


This is a random project I thought would be fun. Take an Instagram photo I liked and give myself 30 minutes to write and edit a short story. Try to find the photo that inspired this bit of writing by following @bono73 (aka Flavio). Click on name to see photo.