Sta.sh
Seeking in the Desert
by ~halfhaggisThe wind gusts intermittently, lifting up mists of sand which swirl about Gustav's legs – occasionally the sand wafts higher, stinging his cheeks. Gustav doesn't mind though. The sand that gets into his eyes, causing them to burn and water confirms that his bodily functions still operate. Nothing else does. All that Gustav is certain of is his mind. It still runs along the shore, searching for inspiration in the sand.
Gustav and the stool he sits upon are the only elements that break the monotony of the dunes. Not even a shadow disturbs the dusty-white-brown surface. The heat of the sun overhead beams down.
UV-A and UV-B slow-roast Gustav's exposed skin. In time it will redden, blister, puss, split and peel. Gustav will be reborn in this ritual of pain and itching.
He contemplates whether he must wait for this rebirth to receive his inspiration. The blank shifting sands give him none. Neither does the bright sky, unspeckled by white fluff.
Gustav stares up at the sun for a time in the hope that it will accelerate his rebirth and consequential epiphany. When he looks away again, unsatisfied, all he can see is the sun. Everything else has ceased to exist.
And the solar winds blow star dust against his legs which themselves are the sun.
