Poetry Train # 91
This is a new story I’ve been working on a little at a time. It’s titled Nowhere Diner. 🙂
The cool night air bit through my jacket, drawing goose bumps to the surface of my skin and causing shivers to dance down my spine. The icy breeze fit my emotions perfectly. Glancing around, I memorized the sight of the local diner where I’d spent so many nights, hanging with friends and jonesing on the crushes no one knew about. The different stores where I had worked for minimum wage and learned to be a responsible adult-my father’s words, not mine.
“Tim.”
Turning back, I met the broken gaze of my first love, Aaron. His dark eyes filled with tears and my resolve started to crumble. I couldn’t let him change my mind. There was a time when I would have given him anything he wanted, but no more.
“I can’t stay, Aaron.” I stepped back, gripping the handle of my duffle bag until my knuckles turned white.
“You could, but you just don’t want to.”
Aaron reached out and the halogen light at the bus stop glinted off the ring encircling his finger. I took another step away. No touching had been my rule since the day that piece of metal was placed on his hand. He knew how I felt about the whole thing, but still he tried to tempt me into losing what self-respect I had.
“There was a time when I planned on living in this town for the rest of my life.” I shrugged, looking down the road at the bus heading toward us. “But things change and you know why I can’t stay here anymore.”
Aaron’s flinch told me he understood my reason for leaving. “Things could be like they were before.”
Desperation colored his words and I shook my head, putting more distance between us. I had to remain strong. It wasn’t time for tears and I’d learned the hard way that crying wasn’t considered manly, so I blinked them back. I would wait until I was alone in a motel room far away from this town before I broke down.
“They can never be like they were, Aaron. You know that. She wasn’t married to you before and you loved me. Now she’s your wife and I refuse to be your dirty little secret. I can’t do it anymore. I need to be able to tell you I love you, but that ring silences me better than any gag could.”
“Tim, I had to marry her. My dad would have disowned me if I didn’t marry and she was willing.” Aaron clenched his hands into fists and shoved them in his pocket. It was a posture I’d seen him take so many times when he knew the choice he’d made was wrong.
“You married someone you didn’t want or love to make your father happy.”
My bitter laughter spilled from my lips into the night. If my heart had been whole, it would have broken all over again, but I didn’t have to worry about that. The moment Aaron had said ‘I do’, my life in my hometown was over. I couldn’t stay and not go to him at some point.
I had loved him all my life and for several years, it had been just us. Now there was a third person in our relationship and she didn’t know about me. I never wanted her to find out either. Hurting her never occurred to me. It wasn’t her fault Aaron was a coward and lied to everyone about his feelings for her. It wasn’t my fault either, but guilt weighed down my shoulders.
He started to say something and I held up my hand to stop him. I didn’t want to hear anything else from him. No matter what he said, my mind was made up. I was leaving because there wasn’t anything left for me in this town and the possibilities that arose down the road would keep me from dwelling on the past or so I hoped.
The bus stopped behind me, the air brakes hissing like a hundred snakes and when the driver reached for my bag, I gave it to him. I kept my backpack with me for it held all of my personal possessions and I wasn’t going to let it out of my sight.
“Good-bye.”
Copyright c. 2009 T.A. Chase
16 Responses “Poetry Train # 91”
I am looking forward to you writing the entire story. I am sure it will be a hugh hit with your readers.
hmmm very nice beginning, would love to see more but have to admit. First want Dreaming of Dragons, then Nick of Time and of course more Bitter Creek 🙂
Thanks, everyone.
I have to admit that Nowhere Diner has moved up in the queque of stories, merely because Tim is talking to me a lot at the moment. So we’ll see how long it’ll take for me to get it done.
Wow!! Great start for a story.
As Lestat in Queen of the Damned would say.. “MORE”
TA, you had me after ‘the halogen light at the bus stop glinted off the ring encircling his finger’.
This scene is a tear-jerker.
It’s so sad. You have a wonderful way of drawing the reader in with just a few words. Very poignant.
TA, this is great. A real heartbreaker. Will there be more?
You’re going to break my heart with this one TA. I’m wiping the tears away now on this one scene.
Just…wow.
I absolutely love this.Please I need more.It’s very moving and touching.Thank you
That was a very intense scene. Thank you.
Very powerful and intriguing. I’m already hooked.
Great start for a story. Cant wait to read the rest when it is ready.
I agree. Heartbreaking…just, Wow.
Heartbreaking scene. Where does this stand in the queue? Can it move up??
Yvonne
This is a very beautiful story. Will there be more to it ???
Have a great day
Sylvie