Smoke

 

He threw another log on the fire and left the door to the stove open even though the chimney was getting a bit blocked with soot and smudge. He left the door open and watched the smoke billow down and out into the room.

 

For a few seconds, maybe close to half a minute, he watched it fill the room, like some tarot card upturned ahead of the reading...a premonitory jumpstart on the way things were supposed to be. A challenge to physics, and predictability.

 

And, all at once, a challenge to anyone, including himself, who had ever said 'No!" He watched it mix and compete with the air in the room and he listened, and waited, for someone, anyone, to tell him to shut it.