13 Comments
Oct 1Liked by <Mary L. Tabor>

Love the igniting of Robert's jealousy with the images of the fireflies and the frog. "Some say that frogs who eat too many of them may also glow." And then the shift into predation and his bitterness--so masterful :) But it's the final line that leaves me riveted. We so often forget the intricacies of an old lock--the way we do the heart.

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What a grand comment with such insights: Your closing exactly what I as writer would hope the reader would see. You are amazing. xx

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Sep 27Liked by <Mary L. Tabor>

This one really glows, Mary.

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Oh, Adrian, you've made my day!

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Mary, I love the switching of perspective, from firelflies to humans, from the painting to the room, from lover to husband. Wonderful!

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Perspective, key. Insightful observation, Jeffrey--more about "perspective" to come. You're such a perceptive reader. Lucky me!

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Sep 27Liked by <Mary L. Tabor>

The Matisse painting is such a perfect metaphor for their willing, yet diminished perspective. Still rich with color and vitality, but also limited, confined. The pins in the lock perhaps a first glimpse at that perspective getting blown wide open.

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Brilliant read! You are a marvel of a reader.

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Sep 27Liked by <Mary L. Tabor>

Haha, I don’t know about brilliant, but I like sharing my interpretation! 😂

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I feel as if you are reading my mind, as well as the novel! So insightful. Even prescient.

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such a tantalising chapter, from the Luciferin of the fireflies to the final cliffhanger... "Isaac heard the pins inside a lock though no one turned a key."

What fascinates me most is how you weave so many layers into each other, seamless, elegant, bittersweet, in the glow of fire.

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You write so eloquently and genuinely in your inspiring Substack and here in this comment. Heart to heart, ~ Mary

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Thank you so much, Mary 💗🙏

This means a lot, especially coming from you!!!

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