Vignette: A Short Story

I woke up in hot sweat, well, not a hot sweat exactly, but it felt like my body was melting and my head felt quite foggy. I didn't really pay attention to much that was different about my surroundings until I heard a faint, yet gentle voice approach me from across the hall. It sounded like Phoebe but different. The voice sounded older and less pure, so it couldn't be Phoebe. Everything just felt different. I noticed the clothes I was wearing were drab. If I was at Pencey I would be shamed by the entire class for showing up in these clothes. Making the connection I realised I was in quite a small room with not much to it. There was a desk which held a mountain of papers. There was an old rickety chair, and a small dresser. Other than that

My phone’s alarm went off early in the morning; I let it play a little more as the alarm was my favorite song. Instead of being cranky by the alarm, I bumped to it. The birds chirped from all angles, the neighbor’s dogs barked at each other, while he was too busy mowing to lawn. But, I was in a terrific mood anyway. The blinds, slightly open, let bright sun rays hit my floor, while the A/C blasted. I slowly got up, and let out a loud yawn. Bones cracked at every single body joint. The pleasing aroma of coffee and the savoring smell of eggs filled up my nostrils. I put both feet down, and head to the pull-up bar where I hang on it for a few seconds, stretching out my spine. I turn my head toward the calendar to make sure today was the day. Indeed it was, reading the month of July with 2008 written in big, bold letters. Butterflies filled up my stomach with goosebumps everywhere.

I know you said you just got out of a long lived marriage, and you just want to be friends, but I can’t live with that. Whenever I look into your eyes I get butterflies in my stomach just like a young school boy with his first crush. And it isn’t only when I’m with you, that’s the thing, . Every dream I’ve had since the day I met you has been about you, and me, and us. I just can’t get you out of my head. It sounds so cliche but I don’t know any other way to put it. I may not have ever been in love before, and I have never understood what people mean when they talk about love, but if this isn’t love I don’t know what it is. There isn’t anything else it could be, like the way I feel a longing to be with you and the joy I feel about our future. And whatever this feeling is, it’s intense.” Archie was on a full out rant of love for Cinderella but paused when he noticed Cinderella beginning to tear up. “Did I say something wrong?” He continued.

When I matriculated to Oregon State University, I realized how alone I really was, and that my popularity had meant nothing because I had no true connections with people in high school. I did not know how to work for anything because everything seemed to be handed to me. Finally my sophomore year of college, I met Harper, who immediately fit perfectly into my life. I’d never been that close to someone before, we did everything together. As I sat on the bus thinking about her my stomach began to contract violently and I masticated on one of my apple slices to try to calm it. Senior year Harper and I had decided to go to a big party for Halloween in Portland. Half way through the night Harper came up to me crying and insisted for me to drive her home, refusing to tell me why. I agreed because the party wasn’t that great anyway, but we got in a huge fight over why she wasn’t being honest with me or telling me what had happened. I had turned my head to look at her just for a moment, her red hair cascading around her shoulders, her eyes filled with

It’s official. I am Screwed. Anna periodically handed Norman her cell phone whenever too many girls was gaining his attention. It wasn’t the ones who tried to speak with him in passing or with as little attention to themselves and what they were doing. What had caused Anna to use her speed dial button on turbo were the ones who openly, proudly, and loudly wanted to get Normans attention and or an agreement to out out on a date, as friends of course. No one wanted to be responsible for him becoming happily single. Norman no longer batted an eye when Anna passed him her cell phone.

Starts In the morning I step out of my car and it is pitch dark and eerie quiet, it's early morning the day after a tragic football game and everyone is tired and anticipating the meet ahead. We all sat mumming with each other and feeling comptable. When I hear the push, hum of the school bus arriving up the drive. Everyone is ready just to get on the bus to sleep. When on the bus I can't get to sleep because I'm sharing my seat with a girl and the bus driver doesn't stop talking. We show up at the meet and i'm waiting for the tent to be put up so I can lay my bag down. My shoulder was aching and the grass was scratching my leg. During the warm up I was thrilled because two male teammates decided to run with us. They both smelt magnificent.

There are times I miss you so much, I wish I could remember where I hid your body. I remember the night, cold and dark. An owl hoots in the distance. If only I could remember where you were. I always liked the night and so did you. Every week we took walks through the forest behind Old Man Smith’s home and talked about what had happened that week. All of that changed once you started dating her. First, you stopped walking with me then you stopped talking to me. In the end, you stopped noticing me in general. I was jealous. I mean who wouldn’t be; you were perfect. Dark hair swept back, tan skin, deep blue eyes. Everything perfect. But she took you away from so I got revenge. I wanted to kill her but I thought of something else that would cause her more pain. After a month of plotting, I realized I didn’t care about you at all anymore, but I still wanted her to pay. Sometimes I regret what I did. She still seems to be happy even though I took you away from her like she did to me. That night that I invited you to walk with me I thought you would reject me but to my surprise, you agreed. Revenge is going to be sweet tonight, I told myself. I went home and put together a backpack. Bug spray, an extra jacket, a water bottle, and a serrated knife went into the backpack. I met you behind the rickety barn on Old Man Smith’s property like we used to. I smiled at you and you did your once cute smirk back at me. You held out your hand and I reluctantly took it. Hand in hand we strolled through the forest. You told your cheesy jokes and I

Starts In the morning I step out of my car and it is pitch dark and eerie quiet, it's early morning the day after a tragic football game and everyone is tired and anticipating the meet ahead. We all sat babbling with each other and feeling comfortable. When I heard the push, hum of the school bus arriving up the drive. Everyone is ready just to get on the bus to sleep. When on the bus I can't get to sleep because I'm sharing my seat with a girl and the bus driver doesn't stop talking. We show up at the meet and i'm waiting for the tent to be put up so I can lay my bag down. My shoulder was aching and the grass was scratching my leg. During the warm up I was thrilled because two male teammates decided to run with us. They both smelled magnificent.

The small car pulled into the driveway of the frat house. 8:15 was the time; the party was already started. Mark noticed his friends’ cars were there as he got out of his own and hurried to the door.

It was the end of summer. People were everywhere in the town of morrisville. Sarah was a senior at Louis High, high school. Straight A student with honors. She loved to be on task but she has another side outside of school. She also loved to party, be out with her friends and other people. Many friends surrounded her from all over the school, nerds, populars, even the jocks. She had no idea what it was like to have no friends. At home her life was pretty complicated. Divorced parents, a sister and an Aunt that lived with her. Her aunt was like her other side, loved to party. The only problem with Sarah was that she couldn't find a boy that fit her standards. Every Time a boy would flirt, she would just send them away. If only she knew her dream boy was coming her way. As clueless as can be, Sarah would know soon what true love felt like.

"Well it did" He said. He kissed me passionately and I kissed him back while pulling him on top of me "What if someone sees?" He asked.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, my stomach felt like swirls, I could smell the salt water, and listened to the waves gently kissing the rocks below us. You held my clammy hand, but you didn’t pull away.. I felt like I was in a movie, two teens go on a first date to a park, sitting on a bench right next to a cliff, looking off into the distance of miles and miles of ocean. You stood up and started walking into the woods and called me over to follow. There was a steep hill that we had to trot down to get to the shore. Right when we were about to break through the woods onto the beach, we found a little tree house that was left all alone. We climbed high up into the tree to finally reach our destination. The tree house overlooked the whole beach. By this time the sun was setting. The sky filled with vibrant colors of orange and pink. We sat there until it was almost completely dark out, we climbed back down and hurried up the steep hill and walked to the bus stop, still holding hands. You kissed my cheek as I got off at my stop, my face turned the color of the inside of a grapefruit. All the way home all I could think about is hoping I would be able to see you again

He sauntered down the dark hallway, the thud of his boots echoing off the polished, concrete floor. The walls encircled him like a predator but he let them consume him. He had let the hatred and anger of his betrayal consume him long ago. He was only a shell now - a shell of the man he used to be. He was devoid of kindness and the action of mercy seem distant, well, he had never been a gentle man but he had lost the few feelings he had. He had always been a killer, a ruthless, blood thirsty General but he had lost even his love for his family after his betrayal. He could no longer look at his wife’s face without seeing the poor excuse of a son he once had. He was emotionless and that made him a great leader. He stood beside

The helplessness I felt as I sat clenching my head in the murky, brisk night. The words “ I will always love you no matter what”, repeatedly played in my head like my favorite melody. The feeling of your hands riveting my face as you gave me one last kiss overwhelmed me with heartache. The pessimistic stare you gave me as you proceeded to say, in a sorrow manner, “Goodbye Jo”, haunted me forever. The moment I never thought would come about came into prospective right then, you were no longer mine.

“I just don’t love you anymore Laura, it’s really not that hard to understand that I love someone else.”