Sunday Niblet: How Could He?

The Sunday Flash Factory 5 to 50/55 challenge prompt words in bold.

I attended the party undercover as my sister. After a few Irish coffees, even I didn't know the difference. Derek should have. He stood in one corner cheating on me with a busty brunette. I swatted him harshly on the back.

"What are you doing, man?" I asked.

He turned, his mouth frozen open. "Jonathan?"

You Told Him

First published at Burningword.

You gaze at the clothes flipping in the washer, because you don’t know what else to do. They’re not even yours.

You told Brad you needed something more, something he couldn’t offer, something you couldn’t explain. You rubbed your damp palms over the lime green material of your dress and told him you wouldn’t forget. You didn’t mention the inoperable tumor.

You changed jobs and moved to the other side of the city, so there would be less chance of you running into each other. You didn’t tell your new employer you’d be there for less than a year. 

You changed your cell phone number and closed your Facebook page. You knew Brad would try to find you.

***

You spin the diamond to match the cycle of the clothes. You don’t think about the future. 

You handed Brad a valise with his stuff from your apartment when you met at the cafe, everything except the ring, that is. You told him you lost it. He was too shocked to be angry.

He asked why. You couldn’t tell him the truth. 

You walked out of the coffee shop, leaving him sitting with his mouth open. You told him not to follow you. You needed some space.

People stared. You wanted to tell them you didn’t want to be a burden, like your mother had been at the end.

Sunday Niblet: The Best Present Ever

Prompt words are in bold.

Carrie crouched at the window holding the oversized, crystal spider in her sweaty palm. A present from Josh, it was his way of curing her "spiderphobia." 

She watched Josh, her lover turned antagonist, exit the car. She inched toward the door, twisting the bathrobe's purple sash around her finger, and waited. He wouldn't rape her again.