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16 FRAMES A SECOND
So there she is. So there I am. Sitting in my watering hole at Café Metro. She walks back into my life.
Seven years. Is a long time. [Flashback]. I will forgive, but never forget.
I only noticed her come in because the Sun got in my eyes. I turned away towards the entrance. I face away again. It’s her, and I don’t look back.
She isn’t wearing her glasses, maybe she isn’t even wearing her contacts. There are a several people in front of her, what is she doing back on my turf? I thought she’d gone for good?
I don’t need this. I stir my cold coffee. I think, I feel. I stir my cold coffee again.
Now she is at a level with me in the queue. Right now I could reach out. Touch her hand. I don’t.
I always wondered if this would ever happen. Now it has. I don’t know. What to do?
She told me. Back then. You’re too old for me. I told her no, you’re too young for me.
She is 40 now. So how does it look to you? I want to ask, now you’re not young now. And I’m too old to care anymore?
She places her order. I recognize that smile. Americano with milk. Dissolve the bitterness.
Seven years. Is a lot of semen flowed under the bridge. And maybe. 70 plus eggs that could have been.
It’s too late. She’s at the counter. Pouring in the milk of imagined lovers. I don’t want to know.
I don’t want to hear. About her career. Since you left, I say I’ve learned how to become a failure. I stand up.
Brush past her that was. Go to the Gents. Sit on the seat. I look through.
The crack in the door, back to the cafe. She is sitting at my table. My cold coffee cup, she brushes aside. Like yesterday, like me.
I leave, through the fire exit. See you, seven years from now. When I’m ready. To finally die.
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| Loved it. The clipped sentences capture perfectly how it feels to suddenly run into an old lover. The quickened heartbeat, the sour taste, the need to escape... |
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| I liked the story,it matches the title. I liked the short sentences which had quiet an impact.Enjoyed it. |
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This is great. You did two very important things here. You both described the physical scene very nicely, as well as letting the reader know what your main character is going through.
The fire escape exit is excellent. I also like that you did not have the woman notice the man. Running away is one thing, but being forced to do so is another.
This is really good. Keep it up. |
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Comment by: helao - 2008-05-14 17:00
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Oh, man, sam, this is wonderful. I love the snding, first of all, "...she brushes aside. Like yesterday, like me..." This is the stuff. I like the short sentences, in short bursts--like a quick snapshot, like the title's suggestion.
I love this bit: She is 40 now. So how does it look to you? I want to ask, now you’re not young now. And I’m too old to care anymore?
Nother good one, sam i am.
Keep em coming, I say! |
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