Sigh. There she goes again. Off to snag someone else. She swears each time that she loves them. And I actually believe her. She does seem to fall in love with each one she sleeps with.1
I watch her all the time. On my lunch break. I go and get a cup of coffee from the chain down the road, then I sit on a bench in the park and read the paper. Well, I pretend to read the paper, anyway. But I'm actually watching her. I can't help it - she fascinates me. Every week, she is with someone new. She'll take them on walks through the park, softly serenading them and whispering her love in their ear. 2
I noticed today that she has been with the same person for about 3 weeks now. It's a woman this time. They seem happy together. She's still following her old routine: walk past me holding the arm of her current lover, laughing and singing. Twirling around shouting, "I love you! I absolutely fucking love you!" 3
I think she likes the shocked looks she gets when she goes crazy like that. It's her own personal high - she thrives off of the adrenaline rush that comes from doing outrageous things that make people gasp. I wouldn't be surprised if that's how her love life is, too. Maybe she keeps changing lovers because eventually, they all get used to her wild behavior and it doesn't shock them anymore.4
She doesn't seem very happy. True, she always has a smile plastered on her face, but she has a sadness in her eyes. Almost like she's buried something deep inside, some terrible, unspeakable thing that she's trying to repress. Maybe that's why she changes lovers so often. They start to see what she's hiding and they pry. She gets scared, so she runs away and finds someone new.5
6
It was 2 weeks before I saw her again. She was alone this time. She looked frightened. Perhaps she was just not accustomed to being alone. Or perhaps this time, she was the one that was cast off, instead of the one doing the casting. She caught my eye for a moment and gave me a weak smile, almost as if to say, "Don't worry, I'm okay." I smiled at her, and nodded. We stayed that way for a moment, staring at each other, our silence speaking volumes. Then she turned and walked away, her eyes to the ground.7
I haven't seen her since.8
Author notes
"You bury your treasure where it can't be found But your love is a secret that's been passed around. There is a silence that comes to a house Where no-one can sleep. I guess it's the price of love; I know it's not cheap." -- u2
A contest entry
- Sound Off! (er... on...) by rindomai.
475 points, ended April 22, 2006, 7 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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Whoa, I loved it. It has an element of mystery as you near the end, and the end itself was incredibly superb, with the perfect cliffhanger. Keep up the great work.
-Kevan -
Wow..
Very chilling at the end... I loved it! It's very good. The detail was okay, but maybe a little more would make the reader more into it. Again, I really enjoyed this a lot. It was short and sweet, the best kind. -
very interesting
I thought it was very interesting the way you took a voyeuristic view upon this story.. watching, insteasd of
participating, I see the central theme as not so much about the escapades of a troubled girl, but the hidden interest in her..held my interest very well...lapoe..beginning: 4, language: 4, plot: 3, overall: 6, ending: 4, dialog: 3, characters: 3.
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short and sweet. i see where you got the idea from the lyrics... literal but not, at the same time. good characterization in a short span for the important people. i mean, i have no clue who the narrator is but hey, it doesnt seem important so i dont mind.
thanks for entering and good luck!beginning: 4, language: 4, plot: 4, overall: 7, ending: 4, dialog: 4, characters: 4.
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Honest
Very honest story with very interesting insight on the way people react in the tough world of love and relationships. Bravo for its honesty and true depiction of real life.beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 4, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 4.
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Honest
Hm, looks like it posted twice...
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 4, overall: 8, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 4.
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Honest
A third time...beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 4, overall: 8, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 4.
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Honest
Wow, four times, imagine that.beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 4, overall: 8, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 4.
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Honest
Five times. Surprising... is this me or storywrite? Lol.beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 4, overall: 8, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 4.
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Honest
Finally, a sixth time. Last time.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 4, overall: 8, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 4.
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Hmmm
First may I make a suggestion? The red background and blue text clash and it makes it quite difficult to read.
The story goes well with the lyrics. I think my favorite lines are the last few in paragraph 6, "We stayed that way for a moment, staring at each other, our silence speaking volumes."
Isn't it amazing how often people communicate in such a manner. Isn't it amazing how often we can find these next day lovers?
Thankyou for sharing. It was a lovely write.
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