The Bradbury Chronicles

Debbie

She was impossible to miss.

Hair of fire. Eyes like emeralds.

I took a deep breath, composed myself, and approached her table.

“Hello,” I smiled. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

She looked up from her novel; those emeralds flashing with irritation at the disturbance.

“No. You’re mistaken.”

There was a tinge of an accent. Lovely. I was not deterred.

I sat across her. She lowered her book; a frown creasing her brow.

“What do you-?”

I raised a hand. “Brentwood High. Class of 97. We figured we’d run off after graduation and live out the rest of our days traveling the world.”

“Now look here-”

“Unfortunately, I realized the love was one-sided. I gave so much of myself and yet nothing seemed to make you happy. I could just never please you, could I?”

Her lips parted to interrupt, but I continued; the memories tumbling over themselves to seek precedence.

“Remember all those arguments we used to have? How you’d sometimes call me a loser just because I wasn’t as rich as some of my buddies? And don’t think I didn’t see the way you used to salivate over Brian whenever he came over. Christ, when I found out you two hooked up eventually, that was the final straw.”

I took another deep breath and felt the invisible weight of her burden flung off my shoulder in an instant.

I rose to my feet with a grin.

“I wish you all the best, Debbie, and I truly hope you find happiness someday.”

I left her staring in disbelief, but not before hearing her friend return to their table to ask just what the hell that was all about.

“The oddest one-sided conversation ever," ‘Debbie’ replied. “Anyway, let’s leave before he returns and assumes I’m another ex of his.”




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Winning Entry
Word Count: 300
Prompt: Write a story that includes the line: “You look familiar.”
Written For: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"