FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: The Stranger

Rainy weather

 

Amy glanced again at the clock on the mantle. Where was he? she wondered. Her friends were wrong. It’s not the knowing that kills your spirit. Its the gut-wrenching waiting and  not knowing that slowly breaks you. When she got the call he was finally coming home, she decided she would just wait.

No judgement.

Just the mind numbing waiting as she counted the raindrops sliding down the window. When is he going to get here? All she had were random letters between deployments. He said it was better if he stayed away, rather than drawing her into his madness. But now he had no choice. Injured, he was coming home and if Amy was honest with herself, she didn’t know if she still loved the stranger he had become.

No judgement.

Having to do something…anything…Amy began pacing back and forth. Never taking her eyes off the rain coated window. Any minute now he would walk up those steps and ring that doorbell. Just like a stranger in his own home. Would she open the door? Of course she would. You can’t just turn your back on thirteen years of marriage like it never happened. But what about the next thirteen? How would she get through them?  Yes, her friends were all wrong. It was the not knowing that ate at her like a poison, until there’s nothing left but crippling doubt. And oh, so many questions.

The sudden peal of the doorbell ringing startled Amy out of her daydream. She’d been staring out the window the whole time, but was buried too deep in her thoughts to see the military car pull up to her curb. A stranger was standing on her doorstep and the time had come for Amy to decide what those marriage vows really meant.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the door to the stranger standing there. All it took was one glance at the fear hiding behind the doubt in his eyes and she knew. 

No judgement.

Opening her arms wide, Amy stepped into her future…

 

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books

They make great stocking stuffers!

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: The Chocolate Train Wreck

 

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donna - Copy

 

Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book One, Ship of Dreams, is available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers. Also, coming to the Titanic Museums in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Book Two, A Chocolate Train Wreck, was released in November.

Donna L

Hybrid award winning author; aspiring sketch artist; and 4th Degree Senior Certified Taekwondo Instructor. Host of BOOK NOOK REVIEWS. Member of SCBWI. Mom to fabulous son and adventurer delving into the tricky world of indie-publishing.

2 thoughts on “FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: The Stranger

  • November 12, 2019 at 5:53 pm
    Permalink

    I couldn’t possibly add to this. It is perfect. And now, YOU have to tell me what happened next!

    Reply

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