Disclaimer: The usual one applies. The Jeff Buckley song mentioned below isn't mine, but it seemed appropriate.
A/N: See, writing is a bit like buses. Nothing happens and then two come along at the same time. This is more a drabble, due to its length.
Feedback would be very much appreciated. Please either R&R at the bottom of the page or send to solitudeperfectionyahoo.com
"Burning Images"
By Elaine
"Its never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever."
Jeff Buckley "Lover, you should've come over"
Her laughter rang out, joyously as a bell. Niles turned his head to see Daphne, her head flung back, the smile spread across her face in rapture. He smiled, a bittersweet smile falling across his face.
Frasier looked over at Niles, and smiled in reassurance. Niles nodded back, half smiling. This wasn't one of his best days: Donny and Daphne's engagement party.
He looked down at his hands, the silver camera sitting solidly in his palm. Metallic, warm. He looked back up at Daphne, then down again. He pulled the shutter back and forth, back and forth, the soft click reassuring him.
'I could do this,' he thought. 'I mean, it's only a picture, not a video tape. And this is her engagement party. All I have to do is raise the camera to my eye and press. It's not that hard.'
But the camera remained steadfast in his hands. Instead he stared over at Daphne talking to Roz as his own camera obscura burnt her image into the back of his retina, searing her in him as he closed his eyes.
Daphne looked over at that precise moment, her face still flushed with laughter. Roz could see the unspoken communication between the two of them, and she stepped back silently. Daphne looked at the camera in Niles's hand and raised her eyebrows, smiling. Half questioningly, half in acceptance.
Niles looked down, and raised the camera without thinking.
Click. Black. Burn.