Big Big House

God, does this hallway ever end? I’m getting tired already.

I never asked for such a big house, but when you’ve been kicked out of your latest flat and up to the ears in debt, sometimes you just suck it up and take it like a man. Great uncle Jimmy passed away six months ago, and while he was a successful businessman, he never seemed to have any of his paperwork in order. It took a month for his will to be found and read, and it seemed that nobody around was left (or wanted) to claim what was his.

Turns out, I was next in line to receive his property since my oh-so-generous cousins rejected the place. I can see why now! This house was in the middle of nowhere. It had forty rooms too many. A dried up swimming pool. A kitchen filled with enough pots and silverware to serve a small motel.

But hey, like I said, I was down on luck, so this place had to suffice for now. Plus, the will said that it couldn’t be sold or rented, so I decided to make it my home for the meantime.

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Dinnertalk

Tom held Sophia’s hand in his, grasping tightly like they used to do on their long walks in the park. He felt a spark, a little ignition, a tiny fire – a mere representation of the burning love they used to have. Sophia smiled at him, as though she was feeling the same way.

Tears begin to well up in his eyes. He wasn’t sure if they wear tears of sadness or joy.

“Do you think we just forgot?” he asked her, blinking his tears back.

“Forgot what?”

“This,” said Tom as he gripped her hand tighter. “All of this,” he motioned to the surroundings of their favorite table at their favorite restaurant. “We used to be so happy together.”

“No, we didn’t forget. I didn’t. I chose not to remember,” she replied turning away from him. “After what you did, I told myself I’d never put myself through such pain again.”

Tom looked aghast. “Then why are you here? Why did you choose to come out tonight?”

“To make sure you remembered how I felt when you broke my heart.”

Sophia put her cigarette out, got up from her seat and waved over a man who had just walked into the restaurant. “Ah, he’s here.”

Tom stared speechlessly at the man approaching their table. As he got closer, Tom noticed that he was a very attractive man. Dressed stylishly but not over the top, a strong jawline, and broad shoulders complementing a confident walk. Tom didn’t need an introduction as he watched Sophia swoon into the man’s arms.

“Goodbye, Tom,” she said as she left the restaurant, arm in arm with the tall handsome man.

“Goodbye,” Tom said to himself as he downed his whiskey and lit up another cigarette.


Writing Prompt from Reddit: “Do you think we just forgot?”

Understanding

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Sally turned her car engine off and lit up a cigarette. She took a long, deep drag and slowly exhaled. Her face, though barely visible in the darkness of the night and dim street lamps, was flushed white. Her hands trembled as she put the cigarette to her lips again.

What the fuck just happened?

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