She rubbed a thumb over her chapped knuckle,
her manicured hands thawing from the cold. The woman who sat across the aisle from her
smiled warmly and nodded, before returning to her crossword. Ellie stared at
her, noting the wisps of hair straggling from her bun, the scuff marks on her
boots, the frayed cotton bag tucked beside her full of knitting needles and yarn.
Her stomach twisted with an envy she could barely contain. How could this disheveled
woman be so content, so at peace, when Ellie had worked so hard to be perfect and
was so miserable?
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This week's flash fiction challenge to write about two things that don't go together can be found here at Carrot Ranch Communications. As always, thanks to Charli Mills for hosting, and to the other Rough Writers for playing along.
Such a huge story hidden in the revealing details of just 99 words. Beautifully contrasted to reveal the the title's opposition.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charli. I'd like to write more about Ellie sometime. I'm sure so many can relate to the quest for happiness in all the wrong places.
DeleteGreat title--two ideas that don't go together. Love the description of the women, too. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah. Funny that "Perfect Happiness" is a saying, huh? Not sure I've ever experienced that really. Joy, for sure. But most of my happiness is amplified by some melancholy. You have to know what you miss to really appreciate what you've got, right?
DeleteThat's why I love your title. Perfect and Happiness don't go together. I wouldn't have thought of this but, yes, it's the yin-yang of life. What would light be if we didn't have darkness?
DeleteGreat piece. You tell so much about the women's lives through their descriptions.
ReplyDelete