In Noveldoctor’s “First and Last” contest, he gave me permission to submit two entries, since I couldn’t decide between two stories that I had written. The contest was to choose between three possible first lines and three possible last lines and to keep the word count under 400. Here’s my first entry.
It was the best of times… no, really, the very best of times. But that was last week. Now, as Samantha looked in the full-length mirror, holding the navy blue shirt-waist dress against her slim body, all she could see were the gray shadows under her eyes and her sagging shoulders. Her chestnut hair was slicked back into a neat bun but several unruly locks poked out around her ears. The gray sweat suit she wore was rumpled – she wasn’t sure how many days she had worn it.
“This navy blue one is too somber – I look like I’m going to a funeral,” she thought. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She felt like she was preparing for a funeral, actually – the funeral for her old, carefree life. Opening her eyes, she put the navy blue dress down on the bed and shuffled to the closet. She emerged with a sexy ruby-red dress – the one she had worn to her husband’s inauguration last month. Everybody had said they looked like John and Jacquelyn Kennedy.
Now, holding the red dress up against her, she felt the full weight of what had happened and her knees started to buckle. She sat on the floor and struggled to hold back the sobs. Remembering how happy they were that day made her depression – it had set in since her husband’s arrest one week ago – that much deeper. Harold, his lawyer, had of course taken care of arranging bail, but those few hours after she found out about the arrest were like a horror film on continuous play in her mind. The tight knot in her stomach was beginning to convince her that she would never feel normal again.
Of course he had denied everything. He came home from the courthouse and launched into explanations about how the FBI had made a mistake – he had been framed. She wanted to believe him but wasn’t sure whether she could. Spending the week barricaded in her house with protesters outside around the clock was not making his story any more believable.
So today’s press conference announcing his resignation would mark the official end of their charmed lives. After today, all attention would be on the trial. She just wasn’t sure she would have the strength for any of it.
“Samantha! We need to leave in twenty minutes!” he shouted to her from downstairs.
“OK – I’ll be down soon,” she replied as she got up from the floor. Samantha smoothed on her makeup, slipped into the dress, stepped into her pumps and made her way carefully down the stairs. She chose the blue one after all.
Very well done. I want to read more and find out what happens!
Congrats!
Great sense of detail and choices to be made! Welcome to the #fridayflash.
Nice story! I want to find out more now!
She chose the funeral dress. Nice.
An amazing strength in character. Too bad it had to end; I’m ready to watch more of Samantha and see how she reacts. You did a good job of engaging the reader’s emotions on this one.
Welcome to #fridayflash.
Nice use of teasing her thoughts on the blue dress only to have her choose it in light of its implications. Glad to have you on #fridayflash.
I like this a lot. You focus on what’s important to Samantha, not the details of what’s going on with her husband, which is perfect for the POV you’ve chosen.
I soooo want to know what he did… it’s killing me.
I hope to read more soon… next Friday?
~2
We always hear about the politician’s POV when it comes to scandal, but rarely the wife’s. This is a good peek at a prevalent situation from another viewpoint. Nicely done.
I second 2mara, I’m intensely curious to know what he did! Especially with the FBi involved.
Great piece of flash fiction, focusing on a simple choice that is a metaphor for something that stretches out beyond the borders of what is written. Awesome stuff. Welcome to #fridayflash. Looking forward to your post next week.
Thanks, everybody for your very kind comments! I had an awesome time with #fridayflash this week and definitely plan on returning! I met some terrific folks and found a lot of great reads, as well! I’m glad you like my piece “Samantha’s Dress” – I’m noodling around with something for next week in the midst of working on my novel. Thanks!
Even though we only see the tip of the iceberg here, we get so much to speculate on. Excellent job!
Nice piece of flash. I think it’s great that we don’t know what he did (or is accused of doing) – it leaves the emphasis on her. Also, a perfect end, choosing the funeral dress.
Welcome to #fridayflash. I look forward to more from you.
~jon
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