Alyssa Devine is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.)
Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Lights
by Alyssa Devine
He was on the front steps when I came home from work, waiting like the stray black Lab I occasionally found sitting at the front door. Gabe, with his handsome beard, strong hazel eyes, and sexy lips. I hadn’t seen him in seven years, not since we were a “number” in high school, he the football team’s quarterback and I, the leader of the team’s cheerleaders. Did I mention we also were the homecoming king and queen in our senior year?
“May I come in?”
“I don’t know.”
“Really? You’re going to leave me standing here on Christmas Eve, under these beautiful lights?”
“Listen, Gabe, I don’t owe you anything after all this time. Not a phone call, not a letter. One day we’re a couple and everything’s lovey-dovey, and then, you disappear from my life . . . hell, you disappeared from the face of the Earth! So, where do you get off suddenly reappearing as if nothing’s happened, thinking we can pick up where we left off?”
He remained silent for several seconds, his lips pursed. Finally, resigned to his fate, he spoke.
“Just listen for a minute, Ashley. First, I’ve done some terrible things. They amounted to meting out justice—at least in my mind. An eye for an eye.
“Anyway, I paid my debt to society, and now, I want to make peace with you and with myself. It would be wonderful to start over again from where we were.
“So, may I come in? Please?”
Congratulations, Ted. Another victory to celebrate!