I didn’t think I’d miss you, but the bed feels big and empty.
I turn over my damp pillow and wipe my wet cheeks. My feet are like ice, I wish I could place my soles against your warm legs.
I curl into the mattress and pull the duvet up to my chin. I don’t remember the bedroom having so many shadows.
I still sleep on the left, I could move to the right now or starfish in the middle. I could drop toast crumbs in the bed. I could do lots of things, but I don’t.
I didn’t think I would miss you, but I do.
Written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 words inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries here.
fabricating fiction 
Very mournful Louise: well done.
Thanks Mick.
Dear Louise,
Pure and simple. Beautifully written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Now I want to know what happened. Why isn’t he there. Has he just left? Is he dead? A mystery write. Super 🙂
Thanks Lyn. In my mind she kicked him out because she thought he wasn’t stopping her doing things. She realises now she was stopping herself. I tried my best with 100 words but couldn’t quite manage it all!
Relationships are too complicated to condense into 100 words, Ypu said more than you think, I think.
Thanks.
Ahh, so lovely and sad. Regretful. A nice take on the prompt.
Thanks Claire. Hope your book is going well.
Oh gosh, this is superb. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thanks. Much appreciated.
Amazingly poetic Louise – I could almost sing it !
Sing, sing!
I will – I will ! 🙂
Beautiful and such a good reflection of the bed when one becomes alone in it.
Thanks Irene. It can seem rather empty.
Beautifully tied to the image, desolation of body and soul.
Thanks.
Plaintive was the word that sprang to mind. Very well done.
Thank you.
So tragic it seems, yet I like the idea of “starfishing” in the middle of the bed! 🙂
Me too 🙂
Nice way to use the photo prompt to evoke the loneliness of sleeping alone with cold feet.
Thanks Tracey.
Good piece. My only crit would be the sentence with a “damp pillow” and “wet cheeks”. Feels like two ways to tell us the same thing i.e. she’s been crying. See you next week!
Thanks Paul. I did wonder whether damp pillow alone would be clear enough. I appreciate the feedback.
The perils of having ‘cold feet’…Maybe time to call him back in . Nice one.
Thanks. My feet are always cold!
This was me after I kicked my husband out…but ultimately it was the right decision. You described the feelings perfectly. (I slept better once I got a new bedroom set!)
Moving tale, beautifully written.
she better moves those cold feet before she gets hypothermia. oh, did i spell it right? should it be hypnothermia? all i want to say is wallowing in self-pity is toxic.
An apt title for your piece reflecting the picture and your character’s heart so well.
Randy
Such a sad take on the prompt. Sometimes that love lost can feel like the longest winter.
Nicely written! I know that feeling.
Thanks.
Such a sad story. Nice take on the prompt associating it with lonely feelings of a relationship. 🙂
Thanks Norma.
Oh I really like the feeling of loneliness you pulled from the image. Especially the crumbs in bed came out as strong for me.
Thanks.
Regrets I’ve had a few…… I liked the reflective way this was written in.
Thank you.
The loneliness hurts here. Well done.
Thank you.
I could do lots of things but I don’t…very telling.
Great title too.
Ah thanks. I’m rubbish at titles!
Great story – you convey her sadness really well. The repetition of ‘I didn’t think I’d miss you,’ works really well. 🙂
Thanks for reading.
Well, abusing his warm legs with your icy cold feet…is that nice?! (Great read, love it)
It’s nice for her Dave! Thanks for commenting.
Wow, Louise! Just great. Emotions covered SO well. Terrific!
Thanks so much.
There is so much loss here, so well illustrated. Well done.
Thanks Patrick
Wonderful details that build the mood and character superbly.
So good… I Understand that lonely feeling, and the reluctantly to take over the other side of the bed… Well told.
Yes, the photo evokes a feeling of isolation and loneliness which you capture so well with your words.
Thanks Lorna. The first thing I saw was ice and I thought of my feet!
Hahaha! That’ll send a chill through you for sure!
Sad that she misses him so.
I think it’s her own fault Sally. Thanks.
I love your blog, it has a nice look and the story is lovely. Well done you, almost want to steal the theme.
Thanks very much. I tried to find something different.
This is beautifully written and so emotional. Loved it!
Thanks Amie.
So sad and reflective, and yet, I can’t help thinking that she is just regretting details. Sometimes this helps evaluating if the details alone are worth the whole package.
They often are I think. Thank you.
A beautiful and sad story, Louise. It leaves unanswered questions, as many of these stories do, but that’s all part of the charm. So well written, as always.
Thank you so much Millie.
Swelling throat and eyes ATM.
I hope this suffice as a comment?
Tay.
It certainly does Tay, thanks.
Oh the raw sense of loss you’ve captured here, Louise. So real and visceral. Wow!
Thanks Dawn.