#RomanticFridayWriters - #AtoZChallenge - Dribbles, Drabbles and Droubbles - Flash Fiction No 4 - 'D' is for 'Don't touch that!'

Welcome to RomanticFridayWriters!

RFW is about short short writing or flash fiction (usually 400 words), less for poems, with some romantic element. It's not Romance of the happily ever after variety, but Romantic, where it's about the story, the issue, with some romantic relationship involved. Our stories are edgy, sometimes dark, and often don't have the HEA ending! 

The fortnightly prompts are in hiatus while RFW participates in the A - Z Challenge. So here we go! RFW Dribbles (50 words) and Drabbles (100 words) and Droubbles (200 words) and more...for your enjoyment...

It's widely agreed that most fiction (unless it's solely about animals) begins and ends with human characters: their frailties, virtues, conflicts and expectations. In our stories for the A - Z Challenge the writers attempt to more closely observe the people around us...

D is for...

'Don't touch that!

Felicity's hand dropped, astounded by Rick's tone.

'Whyever not?' she asked, 'It's a box. It's on a shelf in my dorm. I'm cleaning up and I found it. Naturally I'm  curious.'

Rick snatched the purple box in a clean sweep and dropped it into the pocket of his uniform. Felicity watched him, waiting for an explanation. He'd never been the secretive type. What was in that box? And why was it hidden behind her grandparents' old wedding picture? She snatched the picture and put it into her suitcase, slamming the lid.

Felicity knew Rick was obsessed with her grandparents' love story. He never tired of hearing how they met during the Korean war. How grandma was a nurse in a unit like M*A*S*H (though nothing like Hotlips Houlihan!) and her grandpa was a Doctor, just as feisty as Pierce. Rick loved the story of how grandpa proposed just before grandma returned to the States. Ah, well, she'd be following in grandma's footsteps soon! Only she was leaving Afghanistan, not South Korea, and she had no ring on her finger.

Felicity was devastated to be leaving Rick behind. Oh, well, what could she do? She couldn't delay any more. She had to get herself on the plane. Her tour was over.

***

She began her long walk out the gate and headed for the bird nosed close to the hangar. Her heart already felt empty and now that there was no one to see, she let her tears flow. She should be exhilarated to be leaving the danger zone, but she would trade the safety of Chicago for more time with Rick. How could she leave him behind? Their love had blossomed in Zabul province. This was their special place.

Felicity heard a shout. She looked back to the hangar. There was Rick, running towards her, his camouflage pants flapping in the stiff breeze, his regulation boots crunching gravel.

'Rick! I thought you had early patrol!'

'Sarge took mercy on me.' He dropped to his knee. At first Felicity thought he was exhausted from the rush, but when he flipped open the purple box, she knew...

©DeniseCovey2012
350 words

                                                                         

Denise, (L'Aussie) writes short stories, flash fiction, travel articles and newspaper profiles while working on her Great Australian Novels. She's the founder of RomanticFridayWriters. Her writing blog is L'Aussie Writing. She'd love you to visit her there for her A - Z Challenge on the theme, BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO!