I dabbed Chanel No. 5 behind my ears, inside my wrists and behind my knees.
A woman should wear fragrance wherever she expects to be kissed.
He first bought me a bottle from Paris when he started his career as a pilot. I wore it on our wedding day and exuded Catherine Deneuve as I walked the aisle towards his damp, smiling eyes.
Twenty years ago today.
I checked my watch.
Bring nothing but yourself, baby.
I felt sixteen.
I fastened pearls, glossed lips, grabbed my handbag and opened the front door.
He stood on my doorstep, a deer in headlights. He was young, full-lipped and somehow familiar.
“Hello?”
Time suddenly seemed slowed to distortion.
“Bonjour mademoiselle, uh, I am needing Monsieur Michel?”
His thick accent prickled my spine.
“You need Michael? And you are?”
“Oh, pardon, désolé mademoiselle, I am son… enfant.”
copyright © 2008, Holly Ringland.
lianne, 2 months ago
Ohhhhhhhhhh wow! You set this up just so perfectly Holly – and I sure never saw it coming. What an amazing gift you have! Perfect little vignette!
Holly Ringland in reply to lianne’s comment, 2 months ago
thank you so much lovely L :) Every now and then, a little piece of flash fiction bubbles to the surface in my mind and is always a challenge I enjoy to try and create a whole story in a tight 150 words or less. i so appreciate knowing that this one worked for you and i pulled it off! thank you so much :)
Miri, 2 months ago
nice twist! i was thinking she was seeing him through ‘lovers’ eyes, as in seeing his youth again & then BAM! :-)
Holly Ringland in reply to Miri’s comment, 2 months ago
thanks so much Miri! i really enjoyed writing this little slice of twisted life :) And I loved your ‘BAM!’... what a great comment, thanks for reading.
Sally Omar, 2 months ago
Fantastic .. love the twist….Sally xxoo
Holly Ringland in reply to Sally Omar’s comment, 2 months ago
thanks so much Sal, it came out of nowhere :)