Sample of Light Fixtures
Check out two free samples of Light Fixtures chosen by author Deborah DeMoss Smith. In chapter IV, Aurora’s bipolar mania emerges. In chapter VIII, her mystical guide Mr. Hematite unveils their special connection.
From CHAPTER IV
… she felt a surge of energy, a sense that all things were within her grasp. It was beyond being on cloud nine; it was more like being on cloud two million and nine. Picking up her speed to thirty-six miles per hour, Aurora rolled the window back down all the way, not worrying about her thick, wild hair so much, just needing the wind in her face. For the third night in a row, Aurora had not slept but a little here and there, but even now she just wasn’t sleepy. She had no interest in sleep. Her mind, racing with so many ideas, plans, and people (including one person in particular), didn’t feel tired either.
From CHAPTER VIII
“As I related to you the first time you visited, I am of the Chalybes, the alleged mythical people who invented iron working. They were not mythical, however, though they, or rather we, did live in north Asia Minor, and we were blessed with iron-clad strengths of the body, mind, and spirit. ‘Iron-clad,’ah, an excellent paronomasia.”
“Paronomasia?”
“Pun.” Putting his hands together and chuckling at his word play, Mr. Hematite continued. “Therefore, the iron-rich land and the water of Chalybeate Springs, were both familiar and receptive to my being here. In the second century, again in Asia Minor, in Cappadocia, in what you now call central Turkey, there was a physician known as Aretaeus. Aretaeus wrote On Etiology and Symptomatology of Chronic Illnesses.”
“Excuse me, but does that book have something to do with whatever illness you have?” she asked. When he looked at her with no expression or words, Aurora added, “Oh, sorry, I’ll be quiet. I promise. Cross my heart.”
“My text, that is, Aretaeus’ text, was the first to describe a human disease whose description is still valid today. He believed that the disorder, which showed itself when the body was imbalanced, had two sides. One was the high, euphoric side. During this time, a person is often very talkative and speaks quickly, sleeps little, is full of thoughts and creative ideas that may seem too much to process. The person can also act reckless or get into arguments. During the low side, there’s a lack of energy or enthusiasm for life, memory problems, and a negative attitude, with deep feelings of helplessness and guilt. Sometimes there are thoughts of suicide.”
“And that’s what you have? You’re scaring me to death!” Why is it older people talked about their aches and pains so much? she wondered. When she got over the hill, she wasn’t going to go on and on about high blood pressure, arthritis, a bad heart, or puny eyesight. But tonight, not wanting to be ugly, she tried to focus on Mr. Hematite’s words while she gave the resalted watermelon its due. Soon she’d have most of it in her stomach.
“No, I do not have this biochemical, mood disorder. But there are those in your family who do.”
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