Friday 30 May 2014

Flash Fiction: Long Time

He thought she was going to the toilet.

"I love you. I go toilet." That sexy word-dropping accent of hers. He loved it. Those words gave him expectation; he knew the routine. He lay on the bed in anticipation.

He waited.

As he waited, he realised it had been the front door not the bathroom door that had opened and shut. He realised her suitcases had not been moved to the hallway because she was tidying, but had been packed and left waiting for departure, departure from the routine. Clearing out, not clearing up.

Leaving, not loving.

He realised he had misheard and his wait would be long and unfulfilled. He realised he had not paid attention, had not listened, had not understood beyond the word dropping, had not loved beyond the sexy.

"I leave you. I go Thailand." The accent had been one of imminent departure and long-time regret.


"Long Time" first appeared in one of National Flash-Fiction Day's Flash Floods. More background here.

4 comments:

Sulci Collective said...

I leave you long time ie forever! Good fun

Anonymous said...

The real "translation" made me grin!

Claudia H. Blanton said...

now that was a brilliant little story, love it! He should have listened!

Unknown said...

Isn't it amazing what we lose when we forget to listen.