It’s time for another Flash Fiction challenge! See the prompt below and give us up to your best 100 words. We look forward to reading how the story unfolds.
“He wanted to tell her he loved her, he’d always loved her. He wanted to grab her by the arm, pull her in close, breath in her scent, and give her the kind of kiss a woman would be able to recall decades later as though she’d just felt his touch. Instead, all he could muster the courage to say was, ‘Life’s not all bad, Traci. Just mostly bad.'”
“You see, that’s the problem.”
“What?”
“Glass half empty.”
Scott lifted his glass; he’d just come back from the bar and it was almost full.
“What do you mean?”
Traci rolled her eyes.
“We’ve been together now for–“
“Forty years?”
Traci gave him an icy stare.
“Just kidding.”
“Two years. And all that time, you’ve been nothing but pessimistic!”
“Have I?”
“You have, and I’m fed up. I can’t go on if–”
“Sorry, love. I can change, I promise.”
“Really?”
“You’ll see. Now, drink up and let’s get to the restaurant or there won’t be any tables left.”
“Well I don’t enjoy coming in early to catch the markets after spending the evening at another charity ball, having port spilled on me by some obnoxious hedge fund manager. Did that stain come out?”
“Have I ever failed you?” he answered wistfully, spreading the shimmering gown in its transparent cover across the counter for her inspection.
She smiled. He would live on the beauty of that smile until the next time she brought him a suit for cleaning.
Later, he spotted a single sequin on the floor. He placed it in his shirt pocket, next to his aching heart.
Her heart sank. He said it like he was trying to comfort her, but it had been too long since she’d heard him say anything was good.
She wanted him to kiss her, softly and passionately like he used to so many years ago. She hadn’t been kissed like that in ages. But she couldn’t fight his demons for him. She couldn’t bring back the man she once loved.
“You don’t have to go,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “It’s better this way.”
She tried to convince herself he was right, but she couldn’t see into his darkness.
“So you think he’ll take me back?” she replied through tears.
Scott sighed and wished he were a different type of man. “Who wouldn’t take you back?” he said. He touched her chin gently, lifting her eyes to meet his. “You’re beautiful.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
He set back in his chair. “You do realize that he’s the one that cheated, right?”
She sniffled and looked at the floor again. “He’s right. We were on a break. I didn’t have any right to get so angry.”
“Just call him,” Scott said, defeated.
She grabbed his knee and squeezed. “You’re the best.”
“Please, Henry, don’t …”
“My writing career is over.”
A tear drifted down her cheek as she managed a last attempt to save him.
“Henry, darling, luck has a good habit of suddenly changing for the better.”
“Not for a loser,” he thought backing up until he reached the door. He feared she would come after him in a reckless embrace and feel the small gun he had purchased after that final rejection slip.
“All things end,” he said aloud. It was his latest private mantra and had failed him.
He heard her sobs as he ran down the hall.
” Can you hit the lights please”
Thats all she could say. She knew those words were just his inner thoughts. A quote he read just to get pass the heartache.
She laid her head on her pillow. He lay beside her and kissed her bandaged wrists.
She knew exactly how he felt, it was so obvious he loved her.
She would never grow the courage to tell him she didn’t feel the same.
That they were only friends and nothing more but tonight she let him love her.
Like his love was all she needed to live for the moment.
She looked deep into his eyes and for the first time saw something beyond the sadness.
Suddenly, it dawned on her.
How could she have been so blind?
She reached for a pen and paper and with sure hands wrote down her telephone number.
“Here,” she said. “Please give me a call.”
His heart gave a leap.
She smiled reassuringly, took his hand and pressed it gently.
“I can see the progression of the glaucoma in the one eye,” she said, “but I am fairly certain that
I can save the other.”