A Short Story
By
Tasha Hutchison
Joan pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, feeling the chill of the rain seeping through. She hesitated for a moment outside Morley's Fried Chicken, staring at the familiar neon sign. It had been years since she last stood here, under the glow of those lights, her heart as conflicted as it was now. She glanced at her phone, checking the time. Any minute now.
The rain fell in a steady rhythm, creating puddles on the sidewalk and reflecting the red and white of the sign. She watched as droplets danced on the pavement, memories flooding back. This place, this exact spot, held so many moments of her past.
Just then, a car drove by, its headlights momentarily illuminating the scene. Through the window, she saw someone step out from behind the counter inside the restaurant, wiping his hands on a towel. It was Mr. Patel, the owner. His friendly face brought a small smile to Joan's lips. He had always been kind, offering extra fries and a warm smile on her worst days.
"Joan?" a voice called softly, breaking her daydream.
She turned to see Eric standing there, his umbrella doing a poor job of keeping him dry. His eyes, those same warm brown eyes she remembered, looked at her with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
"Eric," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.
They stood there for a moment, the rain filling the silence between them. It was Eric who spoke first.
"It's been a while."
"Yeah," Joan nodded, looking down at her feet. "It has."
Eric shifted on his feet, the umbrella tilting slightly as he tried to find the right words. "I wasn't sure if you'd come."
Joan looked up, meeting his gaze. "I almost didn't."
Eric smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "But you did."
Joan sighed, the weight of the past pressing down on her. "Why here, Eric? Why now?"
He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers. "This place... it meant something to us. It was where we had our first date, where we talked about our dreams. I thought... maybe we could find some of that again."
Joan's mind raced back to that night, years ago, when they had sat inside, laughing and talking for hours. They had been so young, so full of hope. But life had a way of changing things. Careers, misunderstandings, and time had pulled them apart.
"I don't know if we can go back," she said, her voice trembling.
Eric nodded, understanding. "I'm not asking to go back. I'm asking if we can move forward. Together."
Joan felt a tear slip down her cheek, mingling with the raindrops. She had spent so long trying to forget, trying to move on. But seeing him here, in this place, brought back all the feelings she had buried deep inside.
"Can we?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Eric reached out, taking her hand in his. "I believe we can. If we both want it."
Joan looked down at their joined hands, feeling the warmth of his touch. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything.
"Okay," she whispered, meeting his stare. "Let's try."
Eric's face lit up with a smile, and for the first time in a long time, Joan felt a glimmer of hope. They stood there, hand in hand, the rain falling around them, washing away the past and offering a chance for a new beginning.
Inside Morley's Fried Chicken, Mr. Patel watched the scene unfold, a knowing smile on his lips. Love had a way of finding its way back, even on the rainiest of nights.
Be sure to check out my books, Broken Petals and Red Roses.
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