Six Sentence Stories – The Sitting
They sat without speaking on the edge of the dock watching the sun lower itself slowly toward evening, the heat so intense you could nearly hear the hot red ball hiss as it kissed the still surface of the water.
“Do you have any regrets?” she asked, knowing he would not speak truth, but hoping still that he might accept the opportunity for absolution.
He had always been content with his choices in life, with the the paths he traveled, with the myriad destinations and experiences along the way; but as he reflected, one event stood out clearly from among the rest – always stood out – as perhaps the greatest misstep of his life. No one knew — no one could ever know the gravity of that decision, and to reveal even a hint to anyone at this juncture would serve no purpose, even if the repercussions were slight.
After a long while he exhaled, giving up everything but his confession in a heavily-burdened sigh, then spoke: “Regrets… no, I have no regrets.”
They returned to their silent sitting, watching the sun slip slowly into the full and endless dark of night.
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This has been a Six Sentence Story.
Each week, the lovely Ivy Walker hosts a link-up challenging writers to spin a tale in six sentences – no more, no less. Click on the link right here to find out more. While you’re there, click on the blue frog button to visit the link-up where you will find great stories from some of my favorite bloggers.
This week’s prompt was CONTENT.
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I guess she knew the misstep, but he didn’t know that she knew. I wish I knew. This is wonderfully written, the imagery of the sunset is palpable. Loved it.
A magician never reveals his secrets, right? 😉
Thank you, Val!
Nice way you expressed the word content in this story…it can be positive and negative.
Thanks, Jessie!
This was beautifully written, Lisa! And even horrible missteps can be necessary to lead you to something better.
Thank you, Dyanne. And yes, true.
*shudders* I’ve lived that. It doesn’t get better.
VERY well written though.
Well…I didn’t necessarily suggest that it does for this guy, either. Hmm…
No, I know. Sounds pretty toxic 😉
Toxic is a good word…
It can certainly be apt. I don’t know if ‘good’ is really ever a possible association.
Fair enough.
This was an awesome 6SS, Lisa! He might actually have felt the burden lift off of him if he had admitted his regret, and I suspect it would have done her good to hear that, but as it most often is, people who know they did wrong have a hard time owning up to it. My ex did actually express regret that he had been such an “#*@%hole” (in his words), unfortunately he didn’t really learn from that and has gone on to repeat the same behaviors in his relationships since.
Thank you, Josie! Old habits die hard, right?
Perhaps the character here has a dark secret…maybe even a crime…that he hasn’t told anyone about, but it seems that at least one person knows or at least suspects he has something to tell.
Wow!! Please, submit that to somewhere, Lisa! This one needs to be published.. I mean, on a larger platform.. Love it, so bittersweet..
Um…Stephanie, thanks. Really. But where?
No idea.. But somewhere.. Competitions for short stories must be out there!!
Well, I’ll tell you what – I often treat the start of the school year as a “new year’s” of sorts. I’m switching up my exercise commitment (which means I’ll attempt to start something…ha!) and I’ve promised myself that I will make more of an effort to put my writing “out there” and do some submitting. So now I’ve made that public and you can hold me accountable.
This makes me feel sad for both of them. How much better if they could have gotten beyond the past, even if in briefly acknowledging it, instead of letting it erode their hearts.
Unspoken truths can be (to use Lizzi’s word) toxic.
I really enjoy this type of 6 Sentence, the potentials and possibilities are there and the emotion (of the characters) and yet it is left, for the Reader to follow the paths hinted at, surely, in (our) choices of what it means, much about ourselves is revealed.
Clark, my favorite type of literature is that which leaves the resolution up to the reader to decide. Sure, there’s something to be said for a neatly-wrapped conclusion, but I kind of prefer to continue to think after I’ve closed the book (or whatever). And yes, the resolution we choose is absolutely about what we bring to the reading – that’s the beauty of any type of writing. What we take away from it depends not only upon the writer’s intentions, but also our own experiences.
nicely done… so many avenues you took and the rest of the story could take. I love your imagery in the first sentence! I feel badly for her in the story as she knows and has to remain secreted… what a lousy position to be in…I dont know if I would be strong enough not to use it against him some day!
I love how varied the interpretations are here. She could be holding onto something with damning potential for him. Or, she could be hoping he will come clean and release himself from the internal suffering she realizes he has. OR…she’s trying to get a confession out of him.
I may or may not be watching too much Law and Order… 😀
wow, Lisa. GREAT writing! How many things have we not been told and not told because of it not seeming like it’d do any good? Also love the imagery of them sitting with the sun going down. Gorgeous.
Thank you, Kristi.
True, knowledge – or a lack of it – can be very powerful.
I pictured their breakup but stubborn as ever he would not take the blame or admit responsibility. She may have learned a valuable lesson but not him.
I didn’t have a breakup in mind – I see these two as more of a familial relationship than romantic. But it’s one way to look at it. Either way, he’s got what he believes is a secret, but she knows. Keeping it to himself only isolates him from her more…
lovely.
I want a bit more….
Perhaps there will be more…we shall see!
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