The One That Got Away

This story is a response to a writing prompt exercise about running into an ex-lover. While the characters in this story are real, this is completely fiction.

"Lucas?"

I turn around, responding to a familiar voice calling for me. The first thing I see is her fiery red hair. She kept it short, with bangs that rested just above her brow. I remember being able to pick her out of a crowd by seeing the red hair that gave her an edgy appearance.

"Cassy," I responded in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" The question came out more accusatory than I had hoped. What I meant by it was, why was she here, in Winona, after getting married to her Wal Mart coworker and moving to Rochester. What I meant was, why, after all this time, did fate put her in my presence not one week after her wedding.

"I'm in town visiting some friends, just for a few days. They weren't able to make it to the wedding and asked that I stop by."

"Yeah I saw that you got married," I said, inadvertently confessing my Facebook creeping habits. "Congratulations." 

"Thanks," she said with a passive laugh. "How have you been?" What a loaded question. How have I been getting kicked out of school twice for lack of payment? How have I been getting my a*s kicked at Basic Training? How have I been wasting my time dating this girl and that girl when I know that the right girl got married less than a week ago? 

"I've been good," I said.

"Well that's good," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry, but I'm running late. It was nice to see you." I watched as she walked out the door with her two coffees to-go. My mind raced. I ran through every possible scenario that could happen if I called out to her.

---

"Cassy, wait. You've always been the one for me. Leave Kyle and come back to me." 

Slap.

---

"Cassy, you broke my heart. I know it was me that ended things, but you wouldn't take me back. My misery is your doing."

Slap. 

---

"Cassy, Kyle's gay.

Slap. Coffee splash. Knee to the groin.

---

I shook the thoughts out of my head. I looked up again and saw the door close behind her. I stood up and ran to the door, swinging it open with my momentum.

"Cassy," I called out. She turned around in response. I had know idea what I was going to say. What was I doing? Why was I out here? Did I expect all of the feelings she had felt for me all years ago to just magically come back? If they did, would she even consider leaving Kyle? If she left him, would it even work out? It didn't the first time. What was I doing?

"Your hair looks nice," I said. Smooth.

"Goodbye Lucas," she laughed as she continued to walk.

Author's Note

was experimenting with thought dialogue

Reviews

[Dinesh Dharme]

Only one mistake I could catch : "I had know idea what I was going to say."
You wrote "know" rather than "no".

Apart from that the story is nice and coherent.