I pushed the little paper boat round and round the kitchen table, imagining it sailing off into a picture-perfect sunset.
What the hell was this all about? And where was Jo?
My stomach rumbled, reminding me it was well past dinner time. I glared at the oven, the hob, the CD player. Normally they would be doing things by now. The oven would be humming merrily, its light giving the food inside a warm, yellow glow. Something would be bubbling on the hob and the CD player would be playing something soothing.
Now, all was silent.
I mooned around the flat, lost in the emptiness. I held the little boat in the palm of my hand, trying to read its unwritten message. I was no good at subtlety.
I turned the CD player on. The song filled the room and all became clear.
Enya’s ‘Sail Away’.
Jo had gone.
——-
Freya Writes... 
i sailed away on your story…great music too!
Thank you, Lynne! It’s a blast from the past!
oh heck.. that started so dreamily with the sunset sailing – and ended with a slap when realizing he had left… so tough..
Oh, I’m sorry… I suppose I’m just exorcising some ghosts. No that I’ve ever been left via paper boat, thankfully…
That really pulled me in. The image of pushing a paper boat around the kitchen table is a compelling one.
Thank you, Suzanne. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Loving trying to read the UNwritten message on the boat-wonderful depth there! Nice one!
Such emotion in such a short piece. I felt the loneliness, uncertainty, sadness, and pain of loss as I read. Beautifully, artfully written.
-AA
Thank you so much. I do enjoy writing flash fiction 🙂