First love

 Brendan did a double-take and halted.

‘My God, Cathy! I was just talking about you last week.’

‘All bad, no doubt.’

She was already backing away.

‘We were discussing first love.’

‘I haven’t seen you, for what, five years, and the first thing you bring up is that.’

‘What?’

‘When I confessed and you humiliated me in front of the whole class.’

‘That was a misunderstanding.’

‘I was ridiculed for months.’

‘I said you were my first love.’

‘Are you recording this?’

‘I meant it.’

‘Well, you had a chance and you blew it.’

‘But I was …’

‘No. Never.’

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

Why didn't you look for me?

John almost collided with the young woman blocking the path.

‘You don’t recognize your daughter?’

‘Sorry?’

‘I recognized you straightaway.’

‘Jane?’

‘You have another daughter?’

‘No … Wow, what is it, fourteen years?’

‘Fifteen. And who’s fault is that? Nothing for fifteen years.’

‘Sorry. I sent a letter each week for a while. After that on special occasions. But I never received a reply’

‘Really?’

‘Your mother … She wanted a fresh start.’

‘So you just walked away?’

‘I wasn’t the one who left.’

‘Why didn’t you look for me?’

‘I … I wasn’t sure you’d want to be found.’

 

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

 

As always

 Greg peered through the glass pane.

‘Is she okay?’

‘Perfect,’ Kate said, ‘that’s why she’s ICU.’

‘There’s no need …’

‘She’s here because of you.’

‘Me?’

‘Your school girl floozy …’

‘She’s twenty four.’

‘… asked Emily and Tom whether they wanted to live with you permanently. And they said yes.’

‘She seemed to be struggling to look after them.’

‘Who’s fault is that? You left her to cope on her own. Then you tried to steal the one thing keeping her going.’

‘I didn’t think she’d try to top herself.’

‘You didn’t think about her at all. As always.’

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

No sympathy

 Kathy was surprised to find tearful Rachel on her doorstep.

‘Is he here?’

‘Why would that lying, cheating scumbag be here?’

‘Because he never stops droning on about you.’

‘I threw him out the day I found out he was fucking a slag. Why the hell would I take him back?’

‘Oh, god!’

‘What were you expecting, Rachel? You were his mistress. Is it a big surprise he’s another now?’

‘I thought …’

‘That it was different with you? Ha! I’d invite you in and give you a bit of comfort, but I’ve no fucking sympathy.’ Kathy slammed the door.


A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.

The moment I opened the door

Cassie opened the door. ‘Oh, it’s you.’

Jeanne stared at her feet. ‘I came to say sorry.’

‘You’ve said it.’

‘I didn’t mean to …’

‘You did; you just regret it now.’

‘You’re right. Sorry. I just …’

‘You just?’

‘I just … self-sabotage. It’s a means of short-circuiting … minimizing loss.’

‘Short-circuiting?’

‘The pain of it ending later will be much greater than destroying it now.’

‘But it might be wonderful.’

‘But if it’s not?’

‘It will be if you give us a chance. If you take my hand.’

‘I’m forgiven?’

‘You were the moment I opened the door.’



A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.