The Space Between Novels & Stories

The two figures are present, clear, and entirely without faces. Samuel works on the quality of the space between the figures in the second week. The distance between them. How close is it? What that closeness communicates without words. I sit on the stool one evening and watch him adjust the space between the figures by a degree I cannot measure. “What are you doing?” I say. “Getting the distance right,” he says. “What is wrong with the distance?” I say. “It is too formal,” he says. “There needs to be less space. Not touching. But chosen proximity. The kind of distance that is not accidental.”

The foot of space not the Greenwich foot of space, which had been the space of a man who had come without socks because coming was the urgent thing and the space between them had been the correct space for that night, the space of sitting with a person who was holding something in the dark and needed company in the holding more than proximity. This foot of space was different. It was the space of two people who had looked at everything — the inventory, the complete picture, the safe register and the accurate register, the arrangement and the thing that was not the arrangement — and were now in the same room with all of it and the space

The room holds the between-time and the between-time is holding the thinking. He thought about the room holding the thinking. He thought about the between-time as the condition in which the thinking occurred — the gap, the between, the space that was not the work and not the rest but the attending space in between. He thought about the between-time room as the room prepared for the between-time thinking — the weight-bearing room and the limestone floor and the south window breathing the field and the hatch and the tea as the ceremony and the room holding all of it so that the thinking could occur in its correct condition.

“Because I know you. And I know me. And I know that none of this is your fault.” Her eyes fill with tears she refuses to let fall. “I just… I don’t want to be the reason you get distracted. Or the reason people talk. Or the reason you lose focus.” I swallow hard. “If you want space because you need it, I’ll respect that. But don’t push me away because you think you’re protecting me.” She looks down at her hands. “I don’t know what I need.” “Then take your time,” I say softly. “Figure it out. And if you need anything… anything at all… you know where to find me.”

Their knees almost touched beneath the wood. "So..." she began, slowly crossing her legs, knowing what effect it would have. "Shall we talk about art?" "Of course," he said, leaning slightly forward. "Tell me what moves you." She rested her chin in her hand, pretending to think. "Tension. What happens between one thing and another. Before the touch. Before the kiss. Before the loss of control." He nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on hers. "The space between intention and action. I like that too. That's where desire lives."

What was he about to do? I stepped back instinctively. But he didn’t get close. He just stopped at the edge of the curtain and tilted his head slightly, like I was a math problem he couldn’t solve. “You looked nervous,” he said simply. I blinked. “Excuse me?” “Up there,” he nodded toward the stage. “You looked like you wanted to puke. I’ve seen it before. First line syndrome.” “Are you seriously giving me acting tips?” “I’m giving you breathing tips. Big difference.”

Her parents should have prepared her for life with supernaturals, even if they suspected she wouldn’t be gifted with a wolf. “The in between is the space in between the Realms. This particular space that we are currently in is the space between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm.” “It’s like a large hallway that connects the Realms together.” I supply when Jamari frowned in confusion. “So this room is in that large hallway?” “Yes and no.” Levi tells her, looking for the right words to make her understand the magic behind rooms created in the in between. The frown returns to Jamari’s face at Levi’s confusing words.

Laurel's cell phone rang while she was arranging their clothes in the closet in a beautiful room on the second floor of this house. This room has a balcony with a bridge overlooking the beach. If we stand at the end of the balcony, we will be able to see a vast view without borders of the sky and the blue sea combined separated by a stunning horizon line. While below, the waves look beautiful rolling, as if calling to invite swimming.

He blocked my way, I waited, trying to still my temper then he filled in the space between us, "I'll give you space but I won't stop loving you " he said. Quick as a flash his lips claimed mine. I froze , folding up my fist in irritation and anger then I pulled away. I responded with a quick reflex slap in. Without waiting to see his reaction, I spun on my heels and Ada was at the door.

When we are in what seems like the middle, we can’t be sure exactly, they give us a little personal space. Winter glances at me and I give her a small nod. She takes one step forward and clears her throat.