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.
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
Shalom 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!
As one who also went the open-ended route this week, I appreciate the possibilities you left open for us. 🙂
janet
I love flash fiction and the way it pretty much forces open-endedness. Possibilities are fun to ponder….
PS – Hi Janet! Thank you!
I loved the line ” “I’ve loved a lifetime from the moment I found you.” 🙂
Hi Helen! Thank you. 🙂
Ahh, 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…
….Or he could’ve just imagined she was with him, as a real person. Lonely old men can become pitiable souls. 😦
PS – Hi Lindaura! Thank you!
This 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!
Hi 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.
Dear 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
Aloha Doug! Thank you! I think you and I have similar artistic sensibilities…
love is a bought woman who stays bought – I liked this.
Hi Bill! Thank you! You’re a wise man! Hahaha.
Interesting and quirky, I like it. I think I’m going with the mannaquin that came to life, but I’m open to other solutions.
Hi 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…
I like the language you used…particularly that last line. Very melancholy.