This was written for dVerse and prosery. Thanks to Merril for providing us with this prompt!
Another Break Up Song
The entirety of his stuff from my apartment fits in a medium-sized reusable Christmas-themed grocery bag, which I carry in my right hand while scanning texts in my left to see if he’s changed his mind.
Two weeks have passed since he said: “I don’t see a future for us.”
One week since I called: “Do you want your stuff?”
It’s 7:14 pm, the air’s still thick with humidity. The day’s heat rises from the sidewalk in steamy waves.
I see him before he sees me. My heart lurches as it does. I pray for “did.” He sips his IPA, then smiles at something on his phone. It’s that smile. The end of us, truly. How long has she/he been part of our lives?
He glances up. No smile. Chit-chat.
We go in different directions down the imperturbable street.
I glance back. Just once.
end
Sascha Darlington
This is sad, but I feel like maybe the narrator didn’t know the ex-lover very well, considering the she/he comment. I like the way you worked in the prompt line. It fit perfectly.
Thanks, Merril. The he/she was a nod to the sexual fluidity of the times, but, truth, does anyone really know anyone else initially? Thank you so much! 🙂
Been there, done that. Captured perfectly. Do you want your stuff? I hope I never have to say that again. Ever. 🙂
I know what you mean! Thank you, Maggie!
ooh very well written, took me there!
Thank you so much! 🙂
a pleasure!
Well described final break up. I could feel the tension in your description in the looking back only once.
Thank you, Frank! 🙂
This is so heart-breaking. That one last glance back.
Thank you so much! 🙂
the essential aesthetics of the text reveals the essentiality with which we live today: there is the urgency of life and also the urgency to follow, define and sometimes look back only once.
That is a profound comment. Many, many thanks! 🙂
Well written and I feel the real tragedy is in the fact she looked back 😔😉
Thank you. I was hoping it might show how she was hoping he too would be looking back, to no avail.