Just As She Read
Flash Fiction | 5 Minute Read
My short vacation from this story sharing, turned into a much longer hiatus when literal technical difficulties greeted me upon my return to the computer. For this reason, I am sharing a flash fiction piece early this week, as a sort of bonus story of the week. While cleaning my office this week, I discovered an old journal used exclusively for my Staten Island Writers Group meetings. The first entry was made in July of 2013. This story was found in that journal. I hope you enjoy some flashback fiction from Nicole of the past.
This is a 5 minute read.
As She Read
Maggie Lovelace lived a simple life. At least, as simple as a woman could without the use of her legs. She lived on the third floor of The Chanterly Building, in apartment 3B, right next to the elevator. Apartment 3A engaged most of her energies. She was harboring a secret love for its occupant, Robert Hanley, a man with very real comprehension of matters of the heart. The Hanley Heartthrobs were Maggie’s obsessive reads for two straight years. Robert knew she was a fan of his novels, but she had confessed nothing more. However, after reading Sonnets of the Straphangers, Maggie decided now was the time to change that.
She woke early with plans to make her way to the bus station before Robert’s weekly excursion to the shore. She wore her favorite gingham dress which flowed nicely over her broken parts, shading them in a lovely pattern of hopeful Spring blooms. She blew out her hair, applied a youthful shade of lip gloss, and even sprayed herself with a subtle mist of Cherish perfume. She put her purse strap across her torso and tucked her purse into the seat next to her. It was a beautiful hand-crafted leather purse from a European trip in college. She wanted Robert to see it, to notice it, but she couldn’t advertise such niceties on her trip to the station – not the way the neighborhood had been changing over the last couple of months. She moved down the block, listening hard for the birdsong that used to accompany her on this trip. She desperately wanted a romantic soundtrack on this journey, instead she was greeted by inane cat calls (like these guys really wanted a girl in a wheelchair!) and conflicting blasts of music from every window she passed. Her wheels rumbled over the regular rhythm of the sidewalk squares adding a unifying beat to the sounds until an unwelcomed piece of trash interrupted (which happened more often now). Beer cans, cigarette boxes, and — Was that a condom?
As Maggie pulled up to the station she wondered how long Robert would stay here in a neighborhood like this. She wondered what he would think of a broken woman who lived is such a broken town. She was starting to lose her nerve, feeling like a fool that she was thinking Robert could see her as anything more than a broken fan.
She approached the newsstand and picked up The Chanterly Gazette, paid the $3.50 for it, and rolled over to the main waiting area. To her delight, there was an article about Robert and his new release.
“Mr. Hanley, breaker of reader’s hearts,” the first question read, “who has your heart these days?”
Oh no! Maggie thought, This is the moment it all falls apart. He has someone!
“I’m a romantic at heart, as you can imagine,” his answer read, “but I’m incredibly shy and overworked. There’s been no chance to act on the feelings I have most recently been harboring.”
Maggie’s heart broke. There was someone else. Her face burned with embarrassment for the actions she very nearly took on such a public forum. Tears welled in her eyes as she folded the gazette, shoved it in the chair next to her, and left the station. Her wheel got stuck on the ramp just as she saw Robert approaching from down the block. He looked tired and angry, but also so handsome. His clothing had a planned look to them – ironed, light and oh no! Maggie thought again, He’s going somewhere with someone special!
She didn’t want to know.
Why is this wheel stuck? Her internal panic rose with each step he took.
He looked up, caught her eye and smiled. Maggie wanted to cry. He was such a polite guy, smiling at the cripple. He quickened his pace and stopped in front of her.
“Maggie! You look lovely,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said, looking down at her draped legs.
“Are you going somewhere?” he asked.
“Home,” she answered.
“Maggie, would you like to go to the shore with me today?” Robert asked, pulling her wheel free, leaning close to her face.
“Excuse me?” Maggie asked.
“I’ve been wanting ask you for weeks,” he said. “It’s just that I’m a bit of a coward when it comes to these things.”
Maggie grabbed the gazette, unfolded it on her lap, smiled at Robert and said, “So I have read.”
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Not sure where I came up with the “Chanterly” name I used in this story for both the name of the building Maggie and Robert lived in as well as the gazette that Maggie reads later in the story. Was it distracting to you at all as a reader that this name was used twice?
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Oh, I loved this story! I was hoping it ended the way it did. I hope your tech difficulties are resolving. I'm dealing with some, too. Not fun!