Member-only story
IMOGENE’S NOTEBOOK
Smoke and Mirrors
A short story
It was Celeste’s final curtain call. And as luck would have it, it was in the Serendipity Casino and Resort parking garage.
Celeste peered over the ledge, smiled out on the Las Vegas strip, and embraced the ironic glow. The sun had begun its nightly bow, creating a pink and purple-infused backdrop to the formerly neon, now LED-emblazoned oversized casino calling cards, including her own.
Blue letters screamed from the closest screen: “Serendipity Presents,” followed by an image of a top hat exploding into purple smoke, then more text, “Smoke and Mirrors.” Then, a vibrant, not-so-long-ago version of Celeste’s face filled the screen, olive skin aglow, hair a magnificent spiraled mane. Not a wig. Not then.
“Celeste Rivera: Illusionist Extraordinaire,” lettered above and below her image.
A glittering fuchsia Land Rover approached, lurched to a stop beside her. Her 18-year-old daughter, Aurora, clicked off the ignition, scurried to her mother’s side to assist.
“I had a good run, kid,” Celeste sighed.
“Shhhh, let’s go, Mama.”
A breeze fluttered through stale remnants of cigarettes and exhaust, stirring and spurring Celeste into a coughing attack. She waved Aurora…
