Flip Flops at 4am

A jealous boyfriend loses his temper over a suspicious phone call.

It’s amazing how peaceful our lives can be

The daily dull of nothing happening

We complain about it

We fight against it

 

It only takes one moment for that dull to blaze away

The strange phone call at 2am

Her voice on another man’s phone

Your heart sinking

 

She’s been drinking with friends

It’s no big deal she assures you

They have to eat themselves sober

She’ll be home soon

 

Two hours pass with no word

The restaurant is twenty minutes away

You buzz the strange cell number

His number

No answer

 

You call again and he picks up

Is she there?

Yes, close by her voice echoes

She says she’s buying new flips flops

At four in the morning

 

The anger rises again

His phone, his voice, she’s with him

She’s out at four in the morning

While your home alone

Feeling like a jealous boyfriend

 

It’s no win really

You can be angry or disappointed

Confused or feeling mislead

All of it bullshit

 

Tiny inferences lead you to conclusions

None of which might be true

She has a friend or a crush

It’s usually simple and brief

And harmless

 

Your actions can make it worse

But only worse

Nothing can make it better

Nothing but trust

 

Flip flops at four in the morning

If that’s what she says

Then you believe her

He’s just a friend

So you believe her

 

It’s a feeling of powerlessness

The waiting, the wondering

In the end she did come home to you

And that’s all that matters

 

Besides

She has the new flip flops

To prove it

 

 

www.suburbanfiction.com

 

Reviews

[April Child]

I like this way of writing about jealousy and the title is genius. It's a nicely flowing poem just carries you along with it's rhythm. However, the first 2 verses were the ones for me.... could have been the opening to many different scenarios and it is so true that we complain about boredom but it just takes that one single moment to change everything and make us realise there are worse things than being bored.

[Neva Bryan]

Lot of pain in this poem.

Love the last stanza. It's so matter-of-fact.

[Angel's Lady]

Great story. A very humbling and a very real experience. Been there, done that, got the battle scars to prove it. Loved it! Great write! Powerfully written, dynamically constructed, and definitely, it held my attention! All the best things...

[Rambling Prose]

The title of this piece certainly entices one to stroll in and have a look around. What sort of woman in her right mind would simply pass by a window filled with, well, filled with any style of footwear, eh?

So, here I am...

This piece spoke to me of the power of - mind over matter - and what a journey the mind can take us on, especially in matters that unequivocally present all the circumstantial evidence that our demons of suspicion are able to conjure up. I admire the progression in this write and your finishing lines are genius.

It looks like the physical evidence (flip-flops) won the battle of the mind on this occasion. Hail to the power of footwear!

Enjoyed immensely...

[.::Cup^E^Cake*RaWr!*::.]

Another great one!!!
I love the story behind this because I was totaly with the jelouse boyfriend,
He freaked out just because i was gong to the mall with my friends & not him & I understand what he was feeling but damn u don't have to cuss be out & accuse me of cheating...
The story line & the ryhming in this were both amazing.

[DANGER]

The flow is good. It's so easy to read.

[forsaken_beauty]

I really loved this. It seems like everyone feels this way when their partner is out. You have no real proof what they are doing, but you have to trust in them. Even it makes you crazy and jealous. Good write.

[EvesDaughter]

I completely felt the angst, the underlying jealousy
of a lover left behind to wonder...Great write, new
friend ;) This is intelligent, totally believable, and
I'm coming back....with flip flops ;)

Eve

[Laurel Ducky]

i saw the image of a boyfriend pacing around an apartment while reading the poem. i especially love the last stanza - it makes the poem almost playful :)

[Wildfleour]

Is it jealousy or intuition???????? Acceptance of your partner's cheating?

Very well-written.......

[Fairwells]

*smile* I really liked that. She flip flops in her affections, even at 4 am in the morning. Just loved it. It made me smile. At least you got her flip flopping flip flops. =)