Photo courtesy of – Ronda Del Boccio
He phones home to tell Roxy he’ll be working late but she doesn’t believe him. He’s been secretive lately. Distant. The proposal she desperately hints for never comes.
She waits outside his office, praying he won’t spill out at 6, but he does.
Liar.
Her anger burns as she follows his car to a nondescript house. Her heart cracks as a dirty blonde opens the door. As she creeps to the window and sees him unbuttoning his shirt, taking it off, her tears fall.
She turns away before she sees the woman pick up her needle. Tattoo ‘Marry Me Roxy’ on his back.
It’s been weeks since I last took part in Friday Fictioneers, I’m so focused on my wip right now – but I saw this photo which immediately reminded me of my favourite film, E.T. and knew I had to write a story about somebody phoning home.
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100-word flash fiction challenge inspired by a photo prompt. You can read the other entries, or join in at host Rochelle’s blog here.
If you’re UK based The Sister is currently part of Amazon’s April deals. The kindle is just £0.99 & the paperback just £2. You can find it here.
fabricating fiction 
A lovely comedy of errors
Slight lack of communication!
Great twist! Really good story.
Thanks so much for reading.
You are welcome.
Dear Louise,
I hope they can work things out. Love the twist.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle
I wonder if Roxy will survive her marriage, I hope she learns to trust him. Nice turn round at the end.
Thank you James
I hope he can salvage the situation before she gives up on him or he’s going to be needing some of that laser tattoo removal 🙂
Haha yes!
Well hopefully he’ll clear up her misconceptions soon. Nice take on the photo prompt.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you Susan
Since there is already lack of trust, this is doomed.
Such a great twist, Louise!
I think you’re right!
I like that ending. 🙂 You did a great job of pulling the reader in and along until the very end for the twist. Great story.
-David
Thanks for reading David.
Brilliant! Hope a tattoo removal won’t be needed!!
I think it might!
Lovely reveal – I wonder if she will ever admit to him her misplaced suspicions!
I don’t think so!
she should be more trusting. i’m sure things will get straightened out later. 🙂
I hope so.
Ah! suspicion is destroying her. May be he has given her enough opportunity to suspect.
Perhaps, yes.
What a twist! I hope they can get over that misunderstanding and learn from it.
Human nature. Forever jumping to conclusions. Nicely told.
She got it wrong, but I’m wondering what history there was to make her mistrust him so much. Perhaps there’s more to this than it seems. Great ending, whatever the history of this pair might be.
Aaahh yes….when you assume! 😦
Think we all do sometimes!
I love the surprise ending. I so hope she finds out the truth before she does something she’ll regret.
Me too. Thanks for reading.
That’s a risky tattoo. If Roxy says no or peeks through the window and sees another woman undressing him, he has to explain that in every subsequent relationship or have it morphed into a dragon. Good twist, though.
I think it might end up being a dragon!
What a great misdirect, I enjoyed it
Thanks Michael!
Oh Louise, so fun to read your writing! I totally fell for this; the last line was a complete and lovely surprise. He must feel very confident… that’s quite a proposal!
It’s a statement alright!
Love the twist, and really hope Roxy will listen to him. Good story.
Thanks very much!