“Exploring life through fiction, together.”

Have you ever put on music as if it was your backing track in a film? No matter where I'd go, I'd have at least one earpiece in, setting the vibes and playing me through life.

Fiction Bite - Sunny side up

 Outside the café window, golden sun beamed onto the thrumming sidewalk.

“Fucking weather,” muttered Jane, “why isn’t it raining?”

“That bad huh?” asked a smiling voice behind her. Jane gasped and spun. The waitress was scribbling in her notebook, auburn hair cascading from her white cap. When she lifted her head, her grass-green eyes sparkled. “I’ve put you down for coffee and a double stack of pancakes. Do you want cream and sugar?”

“I, err, no, thank you.”

The pancakes oozed syrupy warmth back into her. The coffee hummed in her veins. She was eyeing the second stack when someone slipped in opposite her, black jeans, tight t-shirt, cascading red hair, black choker.

“Good, there’s still some left. I’m Helen, by the way.” Jane slid over the spare fork, still wrapped in paper tissue. Helen speared a chunk that dripped syrup over the table on its way to her ruby lips. “You look like you need some cheering up. So after the pancakes, which are on the house, we’re off to the movies. You’re paying, but I’ll buy the popcorn.”

“We weren’t even together that long. Honestly, I’ll—”

“It’ll be fun. Plus, you’re kinda cute.” Jane felt her cheeks cooking the colour of Helen’s hair. She nodded and looked back out the window. The sun was still shining.

Quote of the Week

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” – Lao Tzu

Book of the month

The Circuit by Francisco Jiménez (or read the Spanish version, also translated by Jiménez)

Final Words

I’d curate the playlist to match my mood. It was a secret weathervane for my emotions. As the years slid by, I stopped. But recently, I've been wondering. What would my soundtrack be at the moment? And, if changing the music changed my lived experience, what would I play instead?

What is your current soundtrack like? And what would you like to play? Let me know. It'd make my day to hear from you.

With Love,

Josiah

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