When I looked up, our eyes locked and he smiled.
“Last stop,” yelled the conductor.
I lost my guy in the crush of exiting commuters but found him hovering around the rusting newspaper stand.
We headed towards the sprawling parking lot.
“Beautiful sky.”
“It certainly is.”
Our hands brushed, then pulled apart.
I fantasized about pushing him up against the closest car and kissing madly under an expanse of faraway nebulas.
But I didn’t. Nor did he.
Just one of us needed enough courage to whip around and yell, “Wait!”
Instead, we trudged away from each other into the darkening loneliness.
There’s a line in the Anastasia animation where Anya says/ sings, “People always say life is full of choices; no one ever mentions fear.” That’s the sentiment this story evokes.
Well done.
Hi Justin, Thank you for the read. Great quote to learn about!
“ Instead, we trudged away from each other into the darkening loneliness.” I wonder how many times this very last line plays out? Probably more often than not. Nice story it hits an emotional level and quickly.
Hi Helen, Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!
How many times do we almost do something that might, maybe, could, bring us joy?
Well done!
Arlene, thank you so much! Yes, almost-land …
I really resonate with this! It’s the perfect mix of wild daydreaming and reality. Thank you for posting!
Trevor, Thank you for reading my story. Golly, I love “wild daydreaming!”
G.
Great ending. It’s believable and sad.
Yolanda, thank you! Happy you like the ending…
This is great. A well-contained story with a proper beginning, middle, and end. I enjoyed it a lot.
Wendy, thank you so much for the read!
Oh dear. It happens, and so sad. (But occasionally, that guy at the bus stop turns up years later. We’ve been married 44 years.)
Hi Liz, your own story about running into the guy at the bus stop years later is fabulous! congrats.
I love this, Julie.
Appreciate the visit and read Alison!
You’ve done it again. A delicious slice of life.
Thank you Ginny! Happy it is viewed as a slice of life …
Beautiful little snippet! Nice going!
Elizabeth, thank you for the read! It is a fun publication …
Great work – as usual. I always learn something from you.
Hi Craig, thank you for reading the tiny story!
Wow! You made me feel the excitement, the hesitation, the sadness.
Hi Joanie! Awesome you felt all those things. Thank you so much for the read.
A very touching story that made me think of Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” Well done!
Jerry, thank you! I am ecstatic to be anywhere near the vicinity of The Road Not Taken. Frost is my favorite poet and I have always loved that poem. Until you mentioned it here, I didn’t even think about the connection to it. Love it!
Ah, what could have been. ^_^ There are so many impasses like that in our lives, and this story captures their intensity perfectly.
Thank you Joyce!
You’re very welcome.
Shoulda
Woulda
Coulda
What holds us back from making that first move ????
Loved the story !!!
Hi Mary, Happy to hear that you enjoyed the story! Thank you for the read.
Great story! 🙂
Thank you Sheri!
This story would work well as a sliding doors scenario. Did they miss a vital chance to find happiness, or did they have a lucky escape?? Or maybe if it is meant to be, the two characters will meet again at a later date. Nicely written ?
Sorry – the question mark was meant to be a smiley!
Hi Kelly! I never thought of this as having a sequel, but your insightful comment certainly opens the sliding doors to that. Thank you so much for the read.
G.
I love it! I’m still wanting to shout, “Wait!” at the two of them!
How fantastic!
Thank you for stopping by Noelle! They could use an intervention…
Choices made that you ponder what would have happened if…
Thanks for the read Corey! Yes, if we alter one choice it offers others.
As a writer myself I try to follow the rule of cutting out emotions, though is quite impossible to avoid feelings in general. Otherwise we take the risk of misleading the reader to a void, instead of allowing him to think about we said. Short and deep; you make it happens, Giulietta.
Thank you so much! Appreciate the kind comment. G.