So I put up a writing prompt on reddit, but gave it a go myself. Here's a short version. Have more to add, but this will do for now. Allons-y!
The prompt:
From the start, the two fit together like a couple of puzzle pieces, the ones you have to force just the tiniest bit to get right.
They met at a rooftop bar in Beijing. Him, an American backpacking the world; her, a British language immersion student.
Adventures were had.
From the start, the two fit together like a couple of puzzle pieces, the ones you have to force just the tiniest bit to get right.
They met at a rooftop bar in Beijing. Him, an American backpacking the world; her, a British language immersion student.
Adventures were had.
A little over two years later, on Christmas Eve, she sent him an email:
Subject:
A random throwback
Message:
Hey,
You crossed my mind earlier, so thought I’d see how you’re doing. Hope you’re well.
Happy Hanukkah and best wishes for the new year!
Subject:
A random throwback
Message:
Hey,
You crossed my mind earlier, so thought I’d see how you’re doing. Hope you’re well.
Happy Hanukkah and best wishes for the new year!
She’d read over their old messages before she sent it. They took her to a place her emotions seldom permitted her to stay for any length of time a “normal” person would deem acceptable. Thing is, she was not one of those people; the only possible way she could think to describe her present state – one of nostalgia, regret, lust, and a host of other feelings related to missed opportunities… opportunity - was unmerited saudade.
She was usually terribly logical when it came to men, something she was only now coming to realise had been quietly deleterious. Seeing her interact with the most recent victim to pique her interest was witnessing a master perform an oft-practised, long-perfected skill. At anything beyond the coquettish façade, she was inept.
It was her fault nothing had happened between them, certainly not for his lack of trying nor her lack of attraction. Their flirting was a social contract she was scared to sign. He would have signed it with his lips the day they met; she knew, because he had told her as much.
He continued his travels, she continued her studies. They kept in touch. His intentions were clear, hers slightly more opaque. He asked her to come see him. She looked at tickets. He invited her to join him. She considered she might enjoy being in his debt. He invited her again. She proffered reasons she could not – though unbeknownst to him, begrudgingly. The invitations stopped. Their lives continued.
Two years after an invitation to spend New Year’s Eve as his date, she thought of him. He was now on his second post-graduate degree, she had finished her studies for the time being, and was kind of working, kind of doing her own thing. She quickly typed an email, and hit send – this time, her intentions more conspicuous.
They had adventures, but not together.
She was usually terribly logical when it came to men, something she was only now coming to realise had been quietly deleterious. Seeing her interact with the most recent victim to pique her interest was witnessing a master perform an oft-practised, long-perfected skill. At anything beyond the coquettish façade, she was inept.
It was her fault nothing had happened between them, certainly not for his lack of trying nor her lack of attraction. Their flirting was a social contract she was scared to sign. He would have signed it with his lips the day they met; she knew, because he had told her as much.
He continued his travels, she continued her studies. They kept in touch. His intentions were clear, hers slightly more opaque. He asked her to come see him. She looked at tickets. He invited her to join him. She considered she might enjoy being in his debt. He invited her again. She proffered reasons she could not – though unbeknownst to him, begrudgingly. The invitations stopped. Their lives continued.
Two years after an invitation to spend New Year’s Eve as his date, she thought of him. He was now on his second post-graduate degree, she had finished her studies for the time being, and was kind of working, kind of doing her own thing. She quickly typed an email, and hit send – this time, her intentions more conspicuous.
They had adventures, but not together.
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