Flash Fiction…

I’m surprised the sun is shining this morning. I promised him I would wait. I promised I would be outside this fenced in prison. I would physically be here when he got out, and I did wait, but my heart died long ago. It’s been three years since he’s been behind bars and away, and if I were being honest it has been peaceful. Peace is something I never knew while he was out.

I’ve got a job now at the farmer’s market in town. I don’t sell food there, I just schlep from vendor to vendor helping out where I can. Nothing the average person would brag about however, it is huge for me. I am thankful for any job I can get especially since my reputation in this town is as tarnished as garage-sale silverware.

I stopped the heroin after Riv went to prison but not by choice. I didn’t want to stop but I didn’t have a choice. I was placed in a detox center then to a long-term facility to get clean. I think about it every day though, the high. It is a memory, a want, which every cell of my body remembers. The dreams have stopped. The dreams where I was shooting up with it and feeling the rush. Even though it made me deadly sick, my hair started to fall out, and the mind tunnels, the dark hollow tunnels that I don’t want to think about now… My teeth hadn’t started to deteriorate yet, but that was just a matter of time. I would have sex with strangers to get it, I would rob my family and strangers to get it, I would vomit uncontrollably if I went to long without it, and I would have shaking withdrawals so badly I could hear my teeth chatter. Yes, it was the devil and still I would have done all I could do to get it in my veins. At least I used to…

Riv walked out of a large heavy door and I could hear it clank and lock behind him. He looked healthy and strong. I haven’t seen him healthy since we were younger. Rubbing my face I take a deep breath as he walked towards my brother’s car. Why did I agree to this? Why did I agree to pick him up? Why did I feel obligated to answer his letter back? Why? I could feel my heart-rate increase. I hated that he had this kind of power on me. Then again, it was my fault he was here…

I was free from his control. I was free and now I know it will be a daily fight with him. The mood swings, the yelling, the looks of detest. My stomach is in knots and yet, I sit here. I sit here.

“Ella, I didn’t think you would be here?” Riv mumbled as he reached through the door and unlocked it, and quickly pulled it open.

I say nothing.

“Thank you,” He gulped. He was just as nervous as I was at this encounter. He reached over and gently placed his large hand on the back of my neck. “It is going to be different this time. This time we are going to make it work. I am going to stay clean and you and me are going to have a good life. You have been clean, Ella? Right?”

I nodded yes, still yet to speak. I bit my top lip as tears filled my burning eyes. Not tears of joy, but tears of pain. He is lying. I have heard the exact same promise before. My heart has no hope on his recovery, I’m still not sure about mine, and I have no hope in him treating me with respect.

Why did I pick him up? Misery loves company, I guess.

Thank you for reading!! Riv and Ella is a Flash Fiction Story I wrote in 2014 and since then I have actually plotted and outlined the entire story to the ending scene so it has grown. Just not sure when I will get to it! I have been looking over all the projects I have going on and thought I would share this one before I publish my new Sci-FY Novel. This is a CopyWrite of Neasha Hill and the plot is subject to change! Hope you enjoy it and please leave a comment or edit if you see one! 😀

~~Neasha Hill