The Statue
A Story Every Day in 2024 April 12th 103/366
Juan didn't feel like he was obsessive. He just recognised that he got comfort from watching her when he was away from her during the day. That if he wasn't able to return to view her during his breaks, he would feel unsettled and nervous. It never occurred to him that what he was doing was wrong. He was very much of the school of "What they don't know, won't hurt them."
The camera was in a bespoke statue that he had made at his pottery class. He was actually rather proud of it. The glaze hadn't come out quite right in the firing but the shape was upright and for a Cyclops, it was pretty accurate. He'd always had a shrewd interest in Greek mythology and liked his learnedness on show as well as his creativity. It was unorthodox, his sculpture, with its phallic proportions, its rather lumpy form in certain lights and its lurid purple shine, but he loved it.
It seemed right to him then to marry the two: the statue and its prideful significance to him, and the camera, where he could view his love whenever he wanted.
He ached when he was not with her. It was not about control or being fooled; it was about being ever present but part of him knew that she would not understand, despite his justifications to himself about how it just showed how much he loved her.
It was time for his break and he took out his phone. In his usual quiet spot, he took out his apple and his can of Diet Coke and opened the app. Nothing. Maybe she was out. But he was sure that she'd said she was having a domestic day. Ah, there she was! His heart leapt! Cleaning. Doing a bit of dusting. She must have music on. Here she comes! Closer. Oh, how he loved her. Stopping. Gazing thoughtfully. At him? No, the statue. Picking it up...
And then the picture went kaleidoscopic as the statue fell to the floor.
He was shocked.
She was back. Up close. Peering at him. The camera!
Then, floor.
Then the sole of a shoe. Hers.
Then, "Signal Lost".
***
366 words
I would hate the thought of being watched, even if Juan makes out that it is innocent in this story and that he is not doing it maliciously. Still, it's creepy, whatever the motivation as well as an extreme invasion of privacy.
And that statue? Sounds hideous, doesn't it?
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
103/366
About the Creator
Rachel Deeming
Mum, blogger, crafter, reviewer, writer, traveller: I love to write and I am not limited by form. Here, you will find stories, articles, opinion pieces, poems, all of which reflect me: who I am, what I love, what I feel, how I view things.
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Comments (7)
The statue sounds awful, and so does Juan! I am worried about what will happen when he gets home.
This gives a whole new meaning to "I've got my eye on you." The guy has a definite problem.
I am both repulsed and feel a tiny bit of sympathy for him!
It is certainly a dirty feeling, being watched, especially when we are gamed and gaslighted by those who purport to love us; but now this is a normal thing, isn't it? We live in a surveilance state that can triangulate our location from sattelites! Is it only bad when a lover does it? Isn't it worse when the government does it? This story would be a fitting allegory! Well-wrought!
Juan is a hugeeeee red flag! 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩 I'm soooo glad she found the camera! I hope she breaks up with him! And yes, that statue is hideous hahahahhahaha
Oof, strange dude. I liked it, short and makes its point. I might have added a bit of an inner monologue as he battles his conscience, kind of like, "Is this creepy for me to do this? No, surely expressing love is not wrong. Like many poets often express love in similar ways, and girls love poets no? But girls don't like being watched by unseen eyes either, nobody does..." That kind of thing. Maybe as well bombard describe that cold, hollow feeling as the world kind of tunnels when the true realization of how badly one has screwed up as well. Or maybe I'm just too descriptive by nature when I stories XD
Polyphemus was quite a creep, too.