Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
There’s gaiety on the streets tonight, but I’ve had my fill of that.
Earlier I trailed a couple to the park, and dined on love, lightly seasoned with lust. Or was it the other way round? My taste buds are not what they were.
There’s yearning over there, at the toy-shop window, but that’s not yet truly in season; much better at Christmas when disappointment enhances the dish to perfection.
Later, as a lone woman weaves homeward, a youth slips from a darkened doorway.
Fear it is then, with a side-order of terror.
A little darker than I’d fancied, but…
A little darker than I’d hoped for, but an alternative story that came to mind was darker still. Must be the time of the year. Thanks to Rochelle, our ever-present ray of sunshine for leading the Friday Fictioneers into the shorter days.
castelsarrasin 
Love the idea of feeding on other people’s emotions.
And you do ‘a little darker’ as expertly as you do everything else.
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Aww thanks, CE. Praise from the Master of the Darkness.
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No reason to be prejudiced against dark. Another cracker of a story, Sandra
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Many thanks, Neil.
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Dear Sandra,
Nothing wrong with going to the dark side on occasion. Loved “love with a side of lust.” Well served.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, glad you liked it. 🙂
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The darker side of people-watching. Perfect for the dark days ahead.
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Better to keep your emotions in check, you never know who you may be sustaining.
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I diet of darkness. I felt I was watching her – but from a distance.
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Thanks for reading, Keith.
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How dark can you go? 😀
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Oh a lot darker than this. You weren’t around when I was positively obsidian. But I’m better now. 😉
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I can get pretty dark myself. Not everyone’s cup of tea ☕️.
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Great POV here. Added a realm of scary to this. Loved it! ❤
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Thanks for reading 🙂
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Dark and juicy, just the thing for Halloween
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Ah, maybe I should have waited a week. Thanks for reading.
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Whoa … and there are those things (some on human form) who feed on others’ feelings, especially sated by the darker ones … oy … and well done …
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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A metaphor for the writer’s life? Methinks your narrator goes rather far in his pursuit of the perfect blend of the emotions. Beautifully written (of course!)
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No, other people’s emotions make me very uneasy. Now their mannerisms, motives and behaviour… that’s something else. Thanks for reading Penny.
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I like the ambiguity, that this could be a paranormal being, or actually a just a person who gets a kick out of watching things they shouldn’t.
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Glad you saw it that way. It was meant to be a paranormal being, but I wasn’t sure that came out.
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You have brilliantly crafted your “emotional vampire.” Be it supernatural or otherwise.
I love this line: “My taste buds are not what they were.” In context, it’s perfect.
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Thank you! I did wonder about titling it emotional vampire, but when I googled the phrase I saw that such people generally try to create the situation that generates the emotions on which they feed, and I felt my ‘creature’ was essentially an observer, albeit a fairly unpleasant one at that. Thanks for reading.
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Reminds me of the dementor…. feeding on the emotions of humans. I wonder if you would crave much more than the sweetness of lust.
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Ah yes, I see the similarity. Thanks for reading, Bjorn.
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At first I pictured a vampire. Still not sure. But you truly dragged us into this wonderfully dark story 🙂
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Thanks Linda, glad you enjoyed it.
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I recognize this award winning character of yours. He thrives on suicidal thoughts too?
Tracey
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I can’t tell you how pleased I am you remembered Finn! 🙂 For a moment there, I wondered what you were taking about until I remembered the MOLP. That seems like such a long time ago. Many thanks, Tracey.
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Finn scared me a little and the piece was so well written that it stuck with me. You’re welcome.
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Some people have esp for emotions, even before they occur.
Great take!
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Yes, I think you make a good point there. Thanks for reading.
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Pretty good picture of darkness that lurks just around the corner of light!
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Thanks for reading.
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Love when you go to the dark side like this. I also love the language and tempo you use.
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Thanks Dale, glad you liked it. 🙂
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That I did!
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Is this a cannibal take?! My god that’s dark! But I love it with a fine Chianti!!
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Only in so far as emotions are concerned. I’m not sure he’s interested in anything other than observing flesh. Thanks for reading.
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A dark people-watcher or a supernatural being dining on emotions… nice one!
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It was meant to be the latter. Perhaps it would be scarier if it were the former. 🙂
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Waiting for a sequel to this! 😀
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I’m not sure I can mess with this character for much longer. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Who are you? A stalker? A vampire?
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Dark indeed! Well told.
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I guess feeding on emotions is better than more predatory action.
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I sensed a bit of a vigilante stalker in this – what was she up to with the couple in the park? Dark and humorous. Anything to break up the boredom.
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dined on love, lightly seasoned with lust.What a line! Your gourmandish tastes in full glow, or shall we say a full course meal. Loved this spiced up dishy story, Sandra.
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Certainly dark in keeping with the season and brilliantly crafted as always. Intriguing idea, an entity that feeds on the emotions of others. Well-done!
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Loved the play of words here Sandra. I left with an eerie feeling, mixed with awe.
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Very dark but with the aspect of potential sympathy for this being – he/she/it sounds weary of its lot. (Or is that me feeding on imagined emotions!!)
Reminds me I have a moth-balled story of a jaded incubus (as you do) I really must finish one day!
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Good writing as always, Sandra. Your character takes chances walking out at night to feed on other people’s feelings as one person was attacked. Well done. —- Suzanne
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Very cool story!
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