Thai Teapots - Deborah Mechele Bento

A faint silvery halo accompanied by a mild vibration interrupted her midnight sleep. “Do you still keep your Thai Teapots on your mantle?” Her blood chilled as electricity raced up her spine to culminate in a faint ringing in her ears. How did he get this number? Her breathing slowed as she pulled the layers of winter blankets tighter around her trembling body, her only free hand held the luminescent screen, and she reread the question. “Do you still keep your Thai Teapots on your mantle?” There is no way this is who I think it is. The blankets couldn’t warm the icy anxiety that cracked through her veins when she accepted the reality of who the message was from.  She needed a plan of action, she needed protection, she needed a place to hide, because she had only ever been successful leaving him once, and now, after two decades, he found her. In an instant, she considered running, but this cryptic message proved that running was not a solution. She typed her reply – “I used to, but they are packed away with everything else from my past.”

Deborah is pursuing her lifelong dream of earning her Creative Writing degree. Balancing her career as a realtor, she crafts poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction exploring themes of love, grief, friendship, and self-acceptance. She has an affinity for travel, old book stores, independent coffee shops, and finds inspiration by capturing moments in pictures that remind her of things she’s read. Committed to authenticity, Deborah aims to create work that resonates deeply with readers.