Friday, June 1, 2012
My excerpt is titled Apologies, at 386 words, full critique acceptable.
The sun finally set, and almost immediately the front room
cooled. Reyna could now feel the
cool air blowing from the vent. She
turned her easy chair to face the breeze, and clicked “new” on the solitaire
game.
She sneezed, and reached for a tissue to blow her nose. The room was filled with the fragrance of too
many yellow roses. There were only 24,
but Jordan had spread them in three’s and four’s in vases all around the room
on the book cases, two end tables, the wall shelves and even on the floor.
Besides the natural aroma was the scented candles. All but two had blown out when Jordan slammed
the door on his way out an hour ago.
Reyna tugged out another tissue and dabbed her eyes, silently cursing
the allergies that made her nose run and eyes water. Absently picking up the glass of vintage
wine, she attempted a sip before realizing it was empty. She set it on the end table and mindlessly
clicked through the deck of cards on the computer.
She reached for the wine glass again before remembering it
was empty. Clicking new game, she
tried to ignore her sense of guilt. And
the empty glass.
If she got up to refill the wine, she knew she’d naturally check
her cell phone, and then be faced with the decision to read the texts she heard
arrive over the last half hour. If she
read the messages, she might be tempted to accept his apology. How many more would she accept before she
stopped caring? If she let this one little
thing slide, again, how many more little decisions would be taken away from
her?
Reyna glared at the empty wine glass. The laptop heated her leg, and the cooler
chose that moment to withhold the little bit of freshness it dispensed. Sighing, she snatched the glass and pumped the
lever that dropped the foot of her chair.
The time for equivocating had ended.
* * *
Please visit the other RFW participants by clicking on the RFW post linky. The linky will be open until Sunday US time for all you equivocators, so don't worry about making a rush decision :)
Did you enjoy this excerpt? Feel like you'd like to post your own up to 400 word flash fiction with a romantic twist? You don't have to be a member or follower of RFW to post to any of our fort-nightly prompts. Show up once, or several times; but do enjoy the opportunity to stretch your writing skills.
Next prompt on June 15 is THE PERFECT EX:
So they've moved on and found someone else. But if you
really want them back you're going to have to work for it- even if that means a
few changes. But do you really, really want someone back who didn't love you
the way you were? Do you really want someone back who's already broken your
heart? Aren't you sick of being a masochist? Maybe being the perfect ex means
moving on. The perfect new love may be just waiting in the wings. Oops, is
he/she being the perfect ex and just using you while trying to win the ex back?
Your story/poem! You deal!
And don't forget these important events next week also:
The Giving Voice Blogfest is your chance to express what
it means for those people in the form of a poem, excerpt, flash fiction piece.
Maximum 400 words in length.
How does your character feel about his situation? How will they cope with
the speech problem? Maybe your story will include a Speech & Language
Therapist transforming their lives (as the above examples of well known
films of real life demonstrate).
and . .
The first Wednesday in June is on the 6th (just five days from today). If you haven't gotten your post written/scheduled, I advise you to quit procrastinating and get 'er done. If you've never heard of this monthly blogosphere event, click here for more details and the linky. Don't waffle about being a joiner; you'll thank me later for giving you the push :)
Hey, have a great weekend everyone . . .






30 comments:
Well, at least he was trying. Good excerpt, Donna!
Thanks for the IWSG reminder. Feels like forever since the last one.
I love the way you set the scene, Donna! I could feel the tension and frustration and helplessness even in your description. Glad she's not going to give in anymore!
It makes me wonder what Jordan or the girl at the computer has done. I loved the piece as it is thought-provoking and well written. It must be something else though to have cooked dinner and given all those roses...that's a huge kind of apology.
It also reminds me of this meme called first-world problems. This girl definitely has them.
I loved the roses. Funny because my kid's school had a rose show this morning so that scent was fresh in my nose :)
Hi,
My oh my, what did he do? Whatever, the impression conveyed leads me to say throw the ruddy cell-phone into a sink filled with water...Purchase a new cell-phone and start a new life! ;)
Hee, hee, there's your filler for next RFW challenge...
best
F
I enjoyed the read as it is. The closest thing I could recommend is a review of the use of adverbs. The majority of them used were very purposeful, but remember, I'm stretching to find something.
Now that I've stretched my imagination to nitpick at something that may not even be an issue, let say I'm thoroughly impressed with the layers included in this. The theme was/is about waffling. You threaded it throughout all this poor girl's actions. New game of Solitaire? Play the current one? Get more wine? Don't get more wine? Her uncertainty is profound and strong in the writing.
Very wonderful read. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Thanks for the reminder about IWSG - I best start prepping my post (I'm always a last minute guy)
Surely some food for thought and nice for it to land on June 1st too, has a nice ring to it and at least trying came.
I like the detail of picking up the empty glass several times and trying to distract herself with solitaire - very realistic :-)
I love that you used scent to help set the scene. Great piece. :)
Hi, Donna,
Hmmm. Intriguing. What did he do? Guilt is such a great emotion to play upon.
I also like her attitude. She's not at all impressed and is somewhat annoyed. Love it...
My piece is almost similar in tone. I hope you like it. My first writing in months. LOL. Beside the A-Z of course.
Feels like forever to me too Alex :)
Hi Julie :)
Mike: never heard of "first world problems" but it sounds intriguing.
Johana; lol, guess we're on the same fragrance link :)
Hi F; hmm, maybe a sequel would be fun.
Thanks Angela; I was worried all the waffling wasn't evident.
Me too Jamie :)
Hey Pat :)
LOL Li; I've had several of those moments myself.
Thanks Lydia :)
Guilt is a good story concept Michael di :) Can't wait to see your submission. Thanks for playing along.
......dhole
it was a nice excerpt, Donnzie! Hope you will be creative and relaxed this weekend!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWUT6yRZDWc&feature=related
Great excerpt, Donna. I liked it a lot.
Btw..I too love to play Solitaire.
Great piece! I wanted to know more :)
Sounds like a back and forth relationship for sure! Nice writing :)
I've felt her pain. I think I would skip the text and go straight to the wine! :)
Thanks Dezzy :) The song was lovely too; quite sentimental. Can't go wrong when you start with piano. And was that a sax in the background? Or a clarinet? I can't always tell the difference :) Hehe; the guy has vampire teeth.
Rachna; its a good way to just clear the mind.
Thanks mshatch :)
Jemi: it does have some drama.
I totally agree Heather.
........dhole
It was a good excerpt. Intriguing and hooked me in. Thanks Donna!
Hi Donna. I love how you've structured this and you've nailed the indecision. You've tapped into the senses with the roses, the scent...Also love the empty wine glass. Sorry, but if it was vintage wine especially I'd be up and filling up my glass, not thinking about it, lol. Glad the equivocating was over in the end. Get rid of him, no matter if he's a cordon bleu cook and provided delish wine.
So many up and coming things. I always seem to remember IWSG and look forward to posting. Don't think I'll have time for the voices one.
And I think you've got your storyline for next RFW prompt. They sort of follow on. I didn't mean to do that, but when reading several stories for this prompt I can see how they could move onto the Perfect EX.
Denise
Dear Donna,
I love all the details: the roses, the tissues, her runny nose, her allergy! You have painted the scene after the heated argument. Will she apologise?
Well done!
Best wishes,
Anna
Anna's RFWers Challenge No 37 'Yes, No, oh, alright then.'
...an emotionally charged excerpt, Donna. Well done!
I always enjoy your Friday posts...keeps me in the loop after a long week of dawdling on the fringes ;)
El
Dear Donna,
When you cook a romantic dinner for someone you care about, then you should share it with them. At least that is how I feel. Good story my friend. You did very well.
Nice excerpt, Donna! Sounds familiar. See you on Wednesday for IWSG! :)
Great story! You really connected with the five senses in this one.
it was actually an accordion :) You can hear it a lot in our songs :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAwDMJT9C0Y&feature=related
This is an interesting story situation. I like the scene setting, but I'm wondering if I could have a little more of what it feels like to be torn between attachment to some one and the joy one feels when they do things right and the anger and desperation when they do things wrong.
Linda
Hello Book Haven; thanks for stopping by :)
Denise; I know, busy busy. It seems your schedule has picked up now that classes are out for you :) Thats a good thing, at least you're not bored, huh :) And you know how I hate to have a good wine go undrunk . .
Thanks Anna.
Hey El :) Congrats on finishing The Fall - regardless of the title outcome - and good luck with the edits.
thanks Andy; yeah, should always eat before arguing :)
See you Wednesday PK :)
Hello Christine.
An accordian Dezzy? Gee, how'd I mix that up. It was great. Thanks for the new link.
Linda: probably :) We'll see if I can follow it up next time :)
.....dhole
I'd love to know to warrant the cooler. You've certainly portrayed her indecision well here. But at least he's trying to make it up to her.
Well done, Donna.
I like the way she found ways to put off responding. I like to think the laptop was there because she had a final chapter to write and responding to Jordan was actually another way for her to procrastinate getting it written :)
Good piece, wasn't sure whether to barrack for him or not!
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