From the History of the Shirts II

[gilli_ann]

Brokeback ficlet/vignette - another glimpse into the history of the two shirts.

500 words, movie canon, rated G.   Warning for canon angst.

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me, but to Annie Proulx, Diana Ossana, Larry McMurtry and Focus Features. I make no profit of any kind except for the inspiration I find in thinking and writing of Jack and

Comments

WOW

[testa_dura]

I wish I had something coherent to say but - wow - this was brutally beautiful, raw and honest. Each word so well chosen and placed exactly where it need to go.

The imagery of Ennis tearing away his own skin (via the shirt) - the only way to shed himself of Brokeback and his feelings for Jack - will stay w/ me forever. It was just brilliant.

This line: No use arguing or reasoning with winter’s heart. is unforgettable in its poetic summation of that awful day - what an arrow to the heart.

Thanks for posting this - it's just stunning.

Tes

Re: WOW

[gilli_ann]

Thank you once more for leaving me such a thougthful and positive comment. It gives inspiration to try to continue writing.

[cynical21]

Oh, sweet Jesus! The memory of what used to be. Very nearly the "saddest words of tongue and pen" - but even more approprite here. Beautifully done.

CYN

[gilli_ann]

Thank you. I truly appreciate your feedback.

[brokeback1963]

He saw the pain and rage of separation, felt it in his own battered face, his suddenly-bruised heart.
**
He’d pulled his other shirt out of the saddlebag, was kneeling over the water, hunching tensely, numbing his hand, numbing his nose, numbing his heart with angry splashes of icy-cold, the freezing wet of tears neither of them would let themselves shed.
**
It was as if Ennis had violently shed his own skin, had ripped it off while it still clung to his sinews and bones, had deliberately torn away the soft layer that belonged here on Brokeback, and was painfully revealing the new one underneath.

Pale, hard and cold, skin like frozen snow. A shield against Jack and their time on the mountain.
**
He closed his dry eyes for a moment. No tears.

He felt too hollow, too empty for that.
**

My God, you’re a genius. This was sheer heartbreaking perfection. **sobs**

[gilli_ann]

(((Tammy))) Thank you!

[soulan]

All three of these are gorgeous but what I love most here is the image of Ennis having shed his skin, actually ripped it off, and comparing it (and thus him) to a rattlesnake. I think the first one is my favorite, with the shirts holding hands -- a whimsical sight that first alarms Ennis before he realises no one will see them.

I'm always so happy to see your one-shots. :)

[gilli_ann]

And I'm equally happy to see a comment from you! Thank you. The shirt=skin image is expanding on what's already in canon of course, but I'm especially glad to hear that it made an impact the way the image is used here.

[bowl_of_glow]

Oh... that was so sad and so beautiful. Just beautiful.

***
Jack had never worried about what they’d do after. He lived for the here and now, and anyway - they had lots of time left on the mountain still. If he’d given it a thought at all, he’d a figured they’d continue like this, get a job somewhere together, stay close. Yeah, somehow they’d be together.
***

Jack was always so hopeful and optimistic I think. He kept hoping for them to be together... And this im my opinion made it even harder to read. :(

***
Two tender skins, marked by the mountain, grass and dirt and sweat, torn from them prematurely as one, stained with fresh bloodstains to prove it. Sweat and blood….but no tears. He didn’t have any.
***

Beautiful.
*hugs*
B.

[gilli_ann]

Thank you! :-)