He found her at the second-hand store. They wed soon thereafter, honeymooned in Vegas, and settled for a brief life together.
Hand-in-hand they walked among the trees and along a quiet green meadow, resting beneath a weeping willow by the stream. She laid her head on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you for buying me. Sorry we won‘t have more time together.”
He kissed her forehead, held her close, and whispered, “I’ve loved a lifetime from the moment I found you.”
The evening sun settled into dusk. The two forms blurred into one and disappeared into the night.
Winner, Mid Week Blues Buster
Dear Terry,
This certainly left me with lots of questions…but in a good way, I’m guessing she’s a mannequin that came to life? Loved the way they blurred into one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Posted by rochellewisoff | 20 September, 2013, 6:40 amShalom Rochelle!
There are three distinct possibilities here. First, that’s NOT a mannequin, but a real person for sale who only APPEARS to be a mannequin. Second, she’s a mannequin that came to life. Third, she’s a mannequin the whole time. 🙂
Flash fiction is such fun, because we’re forced to leave so much open to interpretation! Thank you as always for your feedback! So much fun!
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 20 September, 2013, 7:56 amAs one who also went the open-ended route this week, I appreciate the possibilities you left open for us. 🙂
janet
Posted by sustainabilitea | 20 September, 2013, 11:15 amI love flash fiction and the way it pretty much forces open-endedness. Possibilities are fun to ponder….
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 2:59 pmPS – Hi Janet! Thank you!
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:20 pmI loved the line ” “I’ve loved a lifetime from the moment I found you.” 🙂
Posted by helenmidgley | 20 September, 2013, 4:19 pmHi Helen! Thank you. 🙂
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:00 pmAhh, mysterious and quirky, yet sweet and a bit sad. I was thinking she was just a mannequin and he was just a weirdo, but now, I don’t know what to think…
Posted by Lindaura Glamoura | 20 September, 2013, 4:58 pm….Or he could’ve just imagined she was with him, as a real person. Lonely old men can become pitiable souls. 😦
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:02 pmPS – Hi Lindaura! Thank you!
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:21 pmThis was really cool. I like the idea that she was a mannequin that came to life, or maybe a real person trapped inside a mannequin. Really unique story!
Posted by The Bumble Files | 20 September, 2013, 6:27 pmHi Bumble! Thank you! I am a romantic, so I would probably go with option #2. And maybe go with something along the lines of, all mannequins have souls, but only the most sensitive and loneliest of people can sense them.
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:05 pmDear Quackzl,
Under the spreading willow tree, I found her and she found me….
Great story. I, too, liked how they blended into one as the day drew to a close.
Aloha,
Doug
Posted by dmmacilroy | 21 September, 2013, 6:01 amAloha Doug! Thank you! I think you and I have similar artistic sensibilities…
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:10 pmlove is a bought woman who stays bought – I liked this.
Posted by billgncs | 21 September, 2013, 12:28 pmHi Bill! Thank you! You’re a wise man! Hahaha.
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:12 pmInteresting and quirky, I like it. I think I’m going with the mannaquin that came to life, but I’m open to other solutions.
Posted by Pete | 21 September, 2013, 2:46 pmHi Pete! Thank you! I think maybe if I developed it into a longer story, I would go along those lines. I really don’t like those stories where it all ends up being in someone’s head…
Posted by Quackzalcoatl | 21 September, 2013, 3:16 pmI like the language you used…particularly that last line. Very melancholy.
Posted by glossarch | 23 September, 2013, 10:07 pm