“Melissa.”
“John,” I sighed, “What have done to yourself?”
He gave me a lopsided grin that made him look years younger, reminding me of the John I’d known in high school. “Missing you.”
I shook my head. “No,” I muttered, slightly embarrassed, “You haven’t.”
Sliding a hand through the bars that separated us, John took my hand in his. “Yes, I have. I’ve missed you everyday since I got here.”
I nodded, not believing a word.
“When I heard you refused to come and visit me here, I was heartbroken,” he whispered, trying to meet my gaze, “I’ve missed you, Melly.”
I tensed, pulling away. “Don’t call me that.” The words sounded harsh, more so than I’d meant them to.
He winced at my coldness. “I just need you to know,” he paused, pulling his ear nervously, “that I’m sorry. So, so sorry for everything I’ve done to you.”
I gulped down my tears, pushing back all emotion before I had time to identify it. “Good,” I said, glad of how cold I sounded. Tears would only make things harder.
He stared at me with eyes filled with hurt, pain and… regret?
“You’ve changed.”
At his words, my stone mask slipped for a moment, revealing my own pain.
“And why do you think that is?” I asked, sounding almost hysterical, “You’re the one who left me that night to go out with ‘the guys’. You’re the one who ran over that guy!” I cried, “Not me! Don’t act like this is my fault! Don’t you dare!”
A sob escaped my throat as I collapsed to the ground, crying out all the hurt, pain, and confusion I’d felt over the past five years. Shaking, I buried my head in my hands, wishing I could turn back time to the days when John and I were a happy couple. Before he’d been arrested for killing Fred Bulzon.
“Melly, Melly,” John murmured, reaching out to pat me on the knee, “It’s ok. Everything’s ok now.”
I looked up at him then, tears running down my face, and asked, “Why?”
He looked surprised, then grateful that I’d given him a chance to explain. “Me and the guys were drunk,” he started slowly, as if scared of my reaction, “and I couldn’t find you so Kenny said we should ditch the party and drive to another one he’d heard of. I know,” he said defensively, seeing my horrified face, “I know it was stupid. But it seemed like a good idea at the time. Like I said, we were drunk.”
“Ok,” I murmured, nodding.
“And, well, then we were driving and,” He paused, looking down, “we didn’t even notice him until we got out of the car. There was so much blood. Too much blood.” He was shaking his head now, as if to rid himself of the memories.
Now it was I who took his hand. “I forgive you, John. I forgive you.”
A contest entry
- ~*~Reunions (no..not family reunions..although it can be..)~*~ by viggomortensenslady.
200 points, ended May 25, 2007, 6 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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this is definitely a wonderful work of writing. short, direct, and it definitely had me guessing til the end.
great job
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As it stands, it's a good story, but what might make it better is if you can somehow lengthen it. Like, descriptions of the jail, more of the history between them. That sort of thing.
I did like this though and it was pretty emotional
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yeah, i'd like to do that. i'm really bad with descriptions but i can try
thanks!
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Good job with this piece. I like how it was short and simple but it conveyed a lot of emotions.
At first I thought maybe John had done something bad purposely the way he was saying: 'So, so sorry for everything I’ve done to you.' but then we realize it was all one big stupid mistake on his part for getting drunk and that he didn't mean to kill the guy.
Anyways, nicely done^^
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thanks! great contest!
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This piece is really emotional. It's very sad and strange... not in a bad way, but at first, I thought John was lying through his teeth to Melly. I see now that he is much more complex a character than that and that's unusual, for me to undergo such a change of feeling about a character.
Well done on this one!
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i'm really glad you felt differently about john in the end! i was hoping people would see how complex he was.. thanks!
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Lovely idea, it seemed a but rushed toward the end, I think you could have drawn it out a bit more there, but other than that, you really kept my attention,, it was really emotional but still fairly simple. Good work
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re reading this, i noticed how rushed the ending seemed too. i'll probably edit this a bit.
thanks!
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