
It was one of those Friday night sleepovers. Nights you jokingly call ‘talk-overs’ for it starts and ends with long talk and gossip in between laughter instead. Just you and you best friend over comfy pillows, soft cushion, and warm blanket. Nothing else matters.
On this special night, in your matching pink pajamas, she turned, hugging your side. With probing eyes she asked, “Aren’t you going to tell me about it?”
“Tell you about what?”
“About it, you silly!”
You gave her that knowing smile for it never ceases to amaze you how she’s able to read your mind. So this is going to be THE night. A confession about the ruggedly handsome man you two met one Sunday afternoon. Your thoughts sent you an avalanche of chill and excitement as you began to speak, “So you rememb-”
“Wait! I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” she said, cutting you off.
Tugging the pillow, you chuckled and wondered where to start. And in the middle of rolling back and forth, you caught a glimpse of a letter. There it was. You could see the corner of the folded yellowed parchment sticking out of the torn lining of the battered book.
Tears trickled down your cheeks after realizing you’re both in love with the same man.
“So, what was it?” she came rushing.
Word Count: 200
Written for Roger Shipp’s flash fiction challenge, Flash Fiction For the Purposeful Practitioner. This is actually half fiction, half truth. I wrote the original story five years ago when I found out my friend liked the guy who liked me. Thank God the feeling’s not mutual on my end, for I would rather lose a guy than a very good friend. The poem was the exact words I’ve read from a piece of paper I found on her sketch pad. :”)
This week’s prompt is: “There it was. You could see the corner of the folded yellowed parchment sticking out of the torn lining of the battered book.” (The opening sentence does not flow as nicely as I would have liked…. You are encouraged to tweak it and use the concept/idea.)
Enjoy more stories here:
February 24, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Sad, it happens though. I wonder who the man likes, if either, and if it will end in a broken friendship.
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February 24, 2016 at 3:44 pm
I’m thinking of a little fight but in the end they’ll just laugh at it because they’ll realize that the man isn’t worth the risk of a great friendship. Hehe 😀
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February 25, 2016 at 5:40 am
I hope so. I was in a situation in university when two girls in our group of girl friends liked the same guy. It was awful because there was like three of us stuck in the middle. I knew both girls well. My friend K started going out with this guy named Jake. My friend S who had a fun night with him once at the bar likes him too. Eventually, K decided it was better for her to tell S. S was so mad at me because we went to high school together too and I didn’t tell her K was dating Jake. I didn’t want to pick sides.
Our friendship kind of went down hill from there, even though S wasn’t mad when K became engaged to Jake (they broke up though). But on the other hand, K is one of my best friends today and S is more of an acquaintance these days then a friend.
Great piece, realistic, if I didn’t mention that.
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February 25, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Oh, that must feel really awful being stuck in between two friends. And more terrible that none of the two even get to have a happy ending after risking their friendship- your friendship (since you were a group). Maybe that Jake was just a kind of test?
Still I’m glad that you and K turned out to be really good friends. 😀 Thank you, Mandi… ❤
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February 24, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Uh oh. Bestfriends falling inlove with the same man is not unusual. Because your bestfriend is actually your alter ego. And most of the time, you have the same preferences.
Nicely done, story. Will she say it? Or will she invent a new man?
Hmmmmm…
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February 24, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Hmm… have you experienced it Rosema? Falling for the same man with your besties?
My original story, the one I wrote about my friend and I, actually ended with a pizza. I ended up telling her I’m in love with a newly opened pizza store in our place. She never knew I found her poem.
I guess if I were to continue this fiction, I would end it with pizza too. 😀 😀 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 4:02 pm
OOOOOOhhhh! So this really happened in real life! 😀 😀 😀
Uh oh!!!
Hmmm.. no. I haven’t. 🙂 My bestfriends and I have the same tastes in clothes, and foods yet with men we haven’t loved one man yet. Though there is actually a common denominator among our exes and current boyfies: they are all dark! 😀 😀 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 4:14 pm
It did.. Except for the falling in love and tears rolling down part. 😀
Haha. Glad you haven’t met a man that go in between your friendship. Hmm.. you guys share a good taste. Dark is cool. Dark is appealing, I also believe. 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Yes! Soooo… how are you. I mean your bestfriend. You are still friends? 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 7:38 pm
We are.. 😀 She never did find out that I knew about her note (I never really liked him, the best thing I did was to not encourage the guy) and she seemed to have gotten over him in the long run (which is great).
Hmm… You think I did the right thing? Not telling her I knew?
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February 25, 2016 at 11:34 am
Hahahaha! Atleast that guy has been a memory for the two of you.
Hmmm.. I think it is fine. As long as no one’s hurt. And that guy has been justva seasonal character to your friendship so it’s okay. 🙂
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February 25, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Yeah, I think it’s one of our tests. 😄 And we’ve succeeded. YEY! ❤️❤️❤️
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February 25, 2016 at 5:54 pm
Yes! You really do. That shows how great your friendship is. 🙂
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February 25, 2016 at 6:07 pm
YAY! Thank you, Rosema. 🙂
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February 25, 2016 at 6:38 pm
You know you are welcome. 😘
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February 24, 2016 at 3:05 pm
You are such a darling. This is totally relatable. 🙂
(p.s. I’ve written the story… here…https://simplymewrites.wordpress.com/2016/02/24/the-hourglass-part-2/ . Hope you’ll like it. 🙂 )
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February 24, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Hmm.. relateble. I wonder if you had the same experience, Fun? 🙂 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 4:10 pm
I did! It’s not a good feeling to have. 🙂 Not once, but twice… Sigh.
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February 24, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Oh… that must be hard. *sigh*
I hope you’re still friends though.
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February 24, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Yes, we are 🙂 Thanks. 😉
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February 24, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Glad to hear that.. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Oh dear, love triangles rarely end well 😦
Nice story!
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February 24, 2016 at 7:34 pm
They rarely do. BUT writers like us got our magic pens to tweak the end, don’t we? 😀 Thank you, Ali.
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February 24, 2016 at 10:37 pm
This is really sad, especially knowing there is some truth to the story. Wonderful story, Maria! It is filled with much emotion. How sad it would be to find out your best friend is in love with the same boy that you are in love with.
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February 25, 2016 at 5:35 pm
Thank you PJ! I couldn’t agree more with you. I just hope there are only a few real life love triangles who end up ruining great friendship in the end.
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February 25, 2016 at 8:00 pm
My sister’s husband had an affair with her best friend. 😦 So sad!!
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February 26, 2016 at 9:57 am
For real? That is so sad… and unfair. I’m so sorry. Are they still together? Your sister and her husband? 😦
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February 26, 2016 at 11:44 am
No, they got a divorce over that.
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February 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm
That’s a good thing, I guess. Since your sister is better off without the two of them.
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February 26, 2016 at 8:38 pm
That’s true! LOL!
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February 27, 2016 at 11:18 am
😂😂😂
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March 13, 2016 at 7:59 am
In this friendship… there is going to be a major loser???
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March 14, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Maybe they’ll gain a stronger bond after that. (But that’s just my bubble)
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