To the driver of the bus that killed me:
I’m sorry.
Know that you are not responsible for the accident. Lately, trying to live my life has been like sailing a boat full of holes. There are holes in my bank account, holes at work and a big hole where my heart used to be. No matter how fast I bailed or how hard I tried to fill those holes, I continued to go under.
I decided to go under for the last time. Under the wheels of your bus.
I’m sorry it had to be you, thank you for setting me free.
Tristan
Tristan leaned over the railing of the bridge while the wind whipped inside his clothes and fluttered in the pocket over his heart. There was a note inside his coat, the same note he’d been carrying every day for the last two weeks, a note waiting for his resolve to steel. The black water churned below him as he left for he understood that today he would take that step.
Minutes later, toes on the edge of the curb and the note in the pocket over his beating heart, he saw the girl standing on the opposite sidewalk.
She had a sloppy beauty, as though designed directly by the hand of God while he was holding a kindergarten pencil and not worried about staying in the lines. Her tiny face was framed by thick strokes of hair that dangled in rough blonde scribbles around the blue-black smears of her eyes and the burgundy stains of her lips so full they were drawn in a permanent pout. Until the corners rose in a smile as her eyes lit on him.
Tristan didn’t even see the bus coming as he stepped in the street to meet her.
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Love it – sympathy, humour and… suicide!
Great combination!
All the best
Keith
Thanks for the comment, Keith!
Glad you got a kick out of it.
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul
Whoops.
Talk about one of those ironic, dark-comic kinds of endings, eh?
And a wee bit depressing, at that.
But, beautifully-written, as always, Paul. I’m glad you have posted some more fiction.
xx
Paris Karin, an alien parisienne
Thanks for stopping by, babe!
You know me, I’m all about the depressing comedy. I’m also glad you liked the fiction: there’ll be more soon.
See you in the sheets,
Paris Paul
Wow!
Really nicely written man – the love story that never was eh? I really like this (even though it left me feeling a little empty inside!) I’m going to have to dig through your Flash Fiction archive after this introduction.
Keep ‘em coming!
Ross-bif
Ross-bif,
Thanks for stopping by, brother. Glad you enjoyed the story and hope you get a kick out of the others. Don’t be a stranger!
See you in the halls,
Paris Paul
who is the chick? second time in 2 days i have seen her with your musings.
Just some random babe I snuck a photo of one afternoon. Karin and I were at the Place Stalingrad and she was at the fountain and pro’lly suspected i was taking her pic but seemed to enjoy it rather than calling the cops…lol.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and give me a read, brother.
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul
It’s dark, Paris Paul, really dark. Is it irony? I guess it’s irony. I’ve never told anyone this before, but I don’t know the difference between irony and a big bummer. But I think it’s irony.
Very well written. I love flash fiction and you certainly have a talent for it. The twist at the end is key. Bravo and keep ‘em coming.
Mindy!
A little dark and a little irony—let’s call it die-rony, shall we?
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the props. I have another idea in mind and it’s much less die-ronical.
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul
Dark, irony…, definitely, and so well written!
Thanks a lot, Peter!
Your attention and comments are much appreciated.
See you in the streets (or at least in “Your Paris”
)
Paris Paul
I love little snippits of stories like this. I did, however, see the bus coming, LOL But I liked it anyway. Makes me want to start writing again…now where did I put that spare time….
Hello BJ!
Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I can see how the bus wasn’t a total surprise but the idea struck me and i pounded out the story in an afternoon kinda just to say I did it. I know exactly what you mean about spare time! I have an idea for another flash fiction piece but you can see from the date of my last post that time is definitely in shorter supply than inspiration. Speaking of time, thanks again for spending some of yours here!
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul
First time here. You write beautifully!
Hi Ash!
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment. Especially such a sweet one! I hope you’ll come back and visit again soon.
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul
Where are you? You have not been posting and I have been a titch worried about you and Ms. K. I hope to heavens that you have not fallen down face first in a pile of snow!
Bises,
Genie
Hi Genie!
Thanks for noticing I was gone. I had some camera difficulties and some professional time constraints and I was in the States for nearly a month during the holidays but here I am, back in the saddle and ready to get back to the entertaining.
Bises back,
Paul
I can’t be witty right now about this post…but as always beautifully written. And I want you to know I read it.