Feeling in Color

A Short Story
by
Dane Flanigan

Him

Russ Grossman woke up on this clear, bright, California Saturday morning. He slept a little longer than
he normally would but he arose with the feeling of something special in his veins. He smelled the scent
of berries with a hint of cherries; it gave a sweet violet mist. His blood seemed to soar today. There is a
smile on his face the first one in a very long time. Ever since coming to LA, he always seemed to wake
up in a funk. Maybe it was fact that he wasnt exactly happy; maybe he wasnt exactly comfortable with
his life.
Things at the accounting firm seemed to be going OK. He had to admit he was feeling a little homesick
but glad he wasnt in the seven feet of snow yesterday. They moved because of Annina Grossman, his
stunning wife of five years, now known as the new singing sensation just Annina. He never thought she
would leave him but she wasnt happy living in the Midwest. They met in college and moved back to his
small hometown shortly after graduation.
After five years and some very long winters, she wanted to leave. She had always been a big-city girl but
Prague to Wisconsin took some adjustment. She had her mind set on being a singer. He hesitated at
first, gave excuses about his job and family but the truth was, he would follow her anywhere. When she
had her mind set on something, she was a red bull and he knew that. With a smirk on his face, he
packed his bags and loaded up the U-Haul. That was the past.
Today is a little brighter. Russ felt a tingle in his spine as he rolled out of bed. In the background, he
could hear her song playing on the radio. He realized for the first time in five years, her beauty was
minuscule compared to her soul, and her voice allowed the world to know it. It is a special day for her.
There is a birthday party in Bel Air for one of the biggest studio directors and she was going to showcase
the event.
For some reason, he started looking in his closet for his old running shoes. Exercise has been a bad word
for him for some time. Fifteen minutes later, he hit the road running. His tired sneakers seemed to have
purpose; his knees hurt a bit but his feet felt light. Again, he thought of his wife and a smile dawned on
his face. His heart kicked up a beat as he headed around the corner to the main road.
Now he was running with a confident stride. He looked at the row of shops ahead. For a second, he
paused. The brightest, most vibrant, violet roses gleamed from a window on the corner. He had passed
by the Winston Flower Shop every day but he had never recognized the truly wonderful flowers by the
window.
Had the same been happening with his wife? Had he been that self-absorbed that he was passing her
by? Had he forgotten about her beauty, her love, her voice? He was now only a few feet from the
window and feeling his eyes well up in tears.
Russ returned to the house. He quickly showered and changed, grabbed his keys and headed out the
door. He pulled up to the Winston Flower shop, gazed one more time at the arrangement in the
window and walked inside.
When he entered, the smell of the flowers overpowered him. A memory of the fountain where they met
years ago became ever so clear. For a brief moment, he could hear the clatter of college kids, the water
flowing, the freshly cut grass. It was the spring semester at Wisconsin, Platteville. He couldnt believe
how beautiful she was, he saw her every week in his Anthropology class and today was his chance to say
hello.
The clerk interrupted the vivid dream as she asked if he was OK. He pointed at the arrangement near the
window and handed over his credit card.
In a dazed smile, he walked back to his car and placed the flowers in the rear seat, staring at them for a
full minute. He tried to turn on the ignition but the strong the smell brought back another memory:
their wedding day, her dress, her hair. He could hear the minister say You may kiss the bride. He
puckered his lips into the thin air; her lips seemed to press against his.
He glanced at his haircut in the rearview mirror and knew. The car soared down the 10 Freeway. He had
always wanted to visit this Beverly Hills Salon and the fashionable mens tailor next door a new suite was
in order, a new look a new Russ and person, a happy person stepping into the feeling. Today, things are
going to change.



Her
In Bel Air, everyone complimented Annina Grossman on her dress, her makeup, her impeccable style,
and the hint of subtle but elegant violet. Tonight encompassed so much hard work, so many years of
training, and so many days of stress. She carefully maneuvered her way through the large mansion
trying to find Russell. She tried to call him before the rehearsal but only got his voicemail. She was being
pulled in every direction for an introduction. She was more than happy to hug and shake hands, but she
was getting nervous because there was no sign of him. Her security blanket .
She glanced at her phone one more time. No calls or texts. Where is he? Had she overdone it? She
placed her career first and pushed him into moving here. She thought her plan of changing him had
been a hoax, more of a bad joke. Had she been too selfish? She knew he wasnt happy in the big city
but she was sure things would change. But this bright idea, what if something really went bad? What if
what ifwhat
The event planner motioned her to the stage. A hint of stage fright buckled her toes. She couldnt move,
stage fright had crept in. She struggled to shuffle her feet.
Smiling and anxiously scanning the crowd, she saw him. She had to look twiceeven a third
timebecause she did not recognize him. His hair is different, the suit is new, and there is a new bold
confidence in his eyes. He tilted his glass and waved to her. She waved back, he smiled. For a moment, it
was if they had just met.
The piano began to play and her beautiful voice emerged. The Brightest Color Violet in My Life.






It

It had been a funny story in her yoga class. The teacher, an eccentric hipster from Silver Lake, knew it
would work. Hypnotize your man a bad title to a good Tyler Perry movie. She thought it was crazy and
impossible, but what did she have to lose?
One older woman in the class swore by it. The wild mother of three said it worked for her. Even the
forever-single girl with the wild boots and funky hairdo said it was life-changing. It was supposed to be
from some tree root in South America, a formula from the jungle used by women for hundreds of years.
The ingredients to this modern-day Love Potion were almost impossible to find.
1. Crush it up to a powder and place it in his drink the night before.
2. When he is first asleep, whisper in his ear about the place where you met, then tell him about the
kiss he can never forget.
3. Tell him to use something old and to buy something new.
4. Then tell him about a smell that is a color that will make him forever think of you.

Annina knew right away what that color and smell would be. A love song she had written many years
ago on a fountain bench.
Violet