Short Story

AN EMPTY EXISTENCE

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Jenne has once again thrown down the gauntlet.
This is our photo prompt for The Unicorn Challenge.

© Ayr/Gray

There are some people who seem to have everything go their way while others lead the life of Sisyphus – the fellow who was punished in Hades for his misdeeds in life by being condemned to the eternal task of rolling a large stone to the top of a hill, only to have it roll back down every single time.

Let’s talk about Helen Chase. She’s the woman with blonde hair sitting by herself at the center table. Check out her posture. That is not a look of relaxation; it’s total defeat.

Helen was a loner and prepared to lead the life of a spinster; then she met a pharmaceutical salesman named Douglas who swept her off her feet. They married but life with her new husband was choppy at best. Helen dreamed the dreams of new brides; Douglas wanted nothing more than a house-cleaning broodmare. Helen failed miserably at both.

Today is her 50th birthday and she’s celebrating alone, divorce proceedings having been finalized. No husband, no children. An empty existence.

Little does she know the man to the left wearing a black shirt and holding a red napkin is desperate to meet her but lacks courage. He comes here every day just to look at her. He’s been alone since his parents died. All he ever wanted was a woman to love, one who loved him. Someone to share his life.

He willed Helen to turn around, glance his way. Helen slouched further down, irretrievably immersed in doleful self-pity.

NAR © 2023
250 Words

The Unicorn Challenge-03/11/23

This is Brenda Lee performing “All Alone Am I”

46 thoughts on “AN EMPTY EXISTENCE”

  6. Pure fantasy, Nancy. Nobody called Douglas could possibly act that way. 🙂 Other than that, wonderful example of people watching.
    (PS – Brenda’s still going at 78 and married to her childhood sweetheart for 60 years.)

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  11. I wanted to shake the pair of them. Loved the narrative tone, a bit like “and here we have the lesser spotted…” Love Brenda Lee too, though from what I remember she married a Douglas and gave up her career on his insistence.

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    1. That bit about Brenda Lee’s husband is something I’m not familiar with; I’ll have to Google that. If it’s correct then perhaps it was buried deep in my subconscious. No one should ever lose their identify at another’s insistence.
      Appreciate your comments today, Sandra.

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  12. My immediate reaction was to shout, ‘Oh for heaven’s sake, you two, get a grip!’
    Great portrayal of two people stuck in their own heads.
    If only he was as bold as his black shirt and red napkin!
    If only she would buy a new bra! It would be a start!
    Enjoyed this, Nancy.

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    1. Haha! You must have read my reply to Misky’s comment.
      Buy a nice bra and sit up, woman! Maybe he’ll be more
      inclined to make that first move (or at least realize he does
      have a set on him after all!)
      Thanks, Jenne luv! Glad you enjoyed this one.

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  16. Oh Helen, sit up straight; you can’t breathe all slouchy like that, and see that woman with the yellow trousers over there? She’s writing your future. If you’re smart, you’ll buy her an iced latte before she turns the tables on you. 😂

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    1. Slouchy? She’s like a sack of flour and her boobs are dangling around her waist, for crying out loud. She might as well be holding up a sign that says “I give up, FFS!” And the woman in the yellow trousers? She’s waiting on a hook-up with the guy heading in her direction right now. Hence the yellow trousers. Oh, and don’t get me started on the lesbians at the table front left (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). They’re up to something, mark my words. 😂

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      1. Actually, which is pronounced Aac-shoe.alley here in Sussex, I think you have the hook-ups wrong. The women at the table front left are The-We-Three-Widows-Society who have an eye on the woman in white walking past that lovely door that’s the same colour as my car, who’s hooking-up with the weak-bladder-woman in yellow trousers who anticipates a great deal of laughter. As for the FFS woman with her boobs in her pocket, words escape me.

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  17. So many worlds spinning around each other, none aware of the others’ existence. Or, some are aware yet blocked by an impenetrable barrier that doesn’t exactly repel, but doesn’t let things through either.
    Your song choice is a nice coincidence this morning, Nancy, and I love coincidences. I’ve just finished a morning heart chakra meditation before coming here and reading / hearing this.
    Here’s to allowing more souls to connect.
    My Sunday is starting well! Fabulous! 🙂 💚

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    1. Brenda Lee will do that to you every time, Tom!
      There seems to be nothing happening in that image but the old adage of “still waters run deep” definitely applies here. Many little secrets.
      So glad you had a good morning heart chakra; sounds like it could be painful if not handled properly 😂
      Lovely exchange with you, Dear Tom. Thanks for your splendid comments! ❤︎

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