Congratulations, Condolences.
General fiction : Short story.
Congratulations, Condolences.
by ~hyperboxchatterchild
Eyes meet from across the room. Secret smiles shared. A touch, the sparks. A "Have we met before?"
Alluring looks sent from either side. Gazes locked together as the sway gently to their own beat.
Half in reality, half stuck in a fantasy world far away, untouched by the horror and corruption of this world.
The night ends, names given, dates received.
They don't think much of each other, until their worlds crash together. Literally.
Coffee spilled, and more bought. Drank in silence, yet a thousand words being spoken.
"How have you been?" The conversation flows, chatter between friends.
Not a word has been spoken of back then. This is now.
No one remembers the past. It is not useful, unneeded.
A name called, a fond goodbye.
"We will see each other again."
It's smiles until they part, sorrow present in the air.
A business meeting, the usual, normal, routine.
Another crash, less messy this time.
A hug, news being shared, congratulations and condolences.
"Are you well?"
Maybe now. Not then. Apart as they had been, life seemed less bright, not quite so colourful as when they were with the other.
Numbers swapped, more hugs, affection displayed for all too see.
3am. A phone rings, groggily answered by a ticked off receiver.
"I couldn't do it." Plans ruined, new ones to be made.
"How could you be so stupid?"
No answers given, none expected.
Silence for a while, thoughts processing, ideas forming, plans setting into motion.
"It has to stop, now more than ever."
Words neither want to hear, yet they must.
Secrets hidden from the world become unravelled, misshapen, dirty.
Not so fun now, not when so much rests on them.
So for one more night they lay together.
Dreading the rising sun, wishing with all of their will to never see another sunrise, for the world to stay dark forever, so their time would never end.
Yet morning comes, as it always does. Tears prick the corners of eyes, emotions held tightly within.
Weakness can never be shown.
A door slams, they crash to the floor.
A gun, held aloft in the air.
A shot, muffled by a scream.
A beating heart no more.