Today's flash is prompt-inspired from this website http://creativewritingprompts.com. This is prompt 121: Start your story with this: "She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled."
"Mystery Box"
She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled. A sigh tumbled from her lips as she shifted on the sofa. She wanted to open the box, but Jeremy insisted she wait.
"It's a special gift," he said, "just for you."
The present had surprised Yasmine. Jeremy and she broke up three months ago, and she already had a new man in her life. Marshall was everything she could ask for in a man. He could cook, was sweet and caring, and he had a career as a plastic surgeon. Jeremy couldn't keep a job longer than a few months, and the misogynistic pig didn't like her to work. He never listened to her. When she got fed up and left, they didn't part on friendly terms.
So the gift was a surprise. No, more like a shock to the system, an electric jolt.
Jeremy looked nice too. He'd shaved, cut his hair, dressed in business casual. He no longer reeked of cigarettes, cheap cologne, and the occasional even cheaper beer. It pleased her to see him turning his life around.
Her heart fluttered to discover what was inside.
The soft strains of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata interrupted her thoughts. She snatched her cell phone from the coffee table and pressed talk.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Yasmine. It's time to open the box."
"Mind if I put you on speaker, Jeremy?"
"Not at all."
She pushed the speaker button and set the phone back on the table.
"I ran into your new boyfriend yesterday. Seemed like a good guy."
"Yeah, he is."
Her fingers trembled from anticipation at what was inside. She tugged the red ribbon, and it fell away onto her lap.
"Are you ready to open it? I think you'll like it. Marshall helped me with it."
"Yes."
Would it be a piece of jewelry? She didn't know what to tell him. Did he want her back? She really liked Marshall, but the tingling feeling was back. Did Marshall know it was for her? She still loved Jeremy, despite how bad he was for her.
"Jeremy, I wanted to—"
She opened the box and screamed.
Amongst black velvet sat an ear.
3 comments:
I knew there'd by something of Marshall's in the box! I was thinking a finger....but an ear is much better!
I considered having it be a finger, but I wanted to do something a little different. :)
I thought this was stunning! I loved the twist at the end. I was suspicious when he said Marshall had helped him with it, but wow!
Post a Comment