PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
Thoughts of guilt and despair crashed through her mind. Radio and daytime TV offered no succour. She needed to get out. She’d take her Kindle and treat herself to a cream tea.
Idling through town, woollen hat and scarf wrapped against the cold, she found herself outside the Diner. Remembering the music, milkshakes and good times, she regretted she couldn’t enter; John might be there. Head bowed, she hurried by. The doorbell tinkled as she stepped into the café, unwinding her scarf.
John looked up from a table, “What are you doing here?”
“Avoiding the diner,” she groaned with resignation.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
Some things are fated, others are just fetid
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Yes, this didn’t go the way either planned it. Thanks Neil
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Dear Michael,
It sounds like she’s run into the very one she’s trying to avoid. Either that or the diner’s closed down due to the virus. Either way a good story that leaves me with questions. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, yes she deliberately avoided the diner because he might be there, he did the same.
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Intriguing!
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Thank-you
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Cosmic law – when avoiding someone we run into them. Great tone to the story.
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Thanks very much
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Hmm, if John is there to avoid her, is this a good sign?
Nicely done, Michael
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It’s a sign that whatever they try will be to no avail
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The twist at the end made me smile. Good one!
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Thank-you very much
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Would be ironic if they both ended up there trying to avoid the other… maybe the Universe is trying to finagle something….
Enjoyable!!
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That’s it, they’re both desperately trying to do the right thing but the universe keeps pulling them back together. Thanks Dale
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Not too effectively, perhaps … but who knows, it may end to be to great effect … 😉
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I think they’re destined to be together
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🙂
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Must be fate that they end up together!
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I think it is. Cheers Iain
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If it’s a small town and neither one has relocated, they probably don’t hate each other that much. I’d like to know what happens next…
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She’s married and trying to do the right thing by keeping away from John who she can’t help loving, he’s coming to the end of a relationship but trying to do the right thing by Alison and stay away from her, all their efforts fail. It’s part of a longer thing I wrote called The Whole of the Moon and it’s on my website if you’re interested.
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Ah! Thanks for letting me know.
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It seems that more than great minds can think alike. Nice one.
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Thanks Anthony, sometimes it’s perhaps best they didn’t.
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it must be fate. maybe they’re meant to be together. 🙂
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No one can resist fate, I think you’re right
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The best-laid plans of mice and men. Great take on the prompt
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Thanks Alicia
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Hahaha great last line Michael. This was very nicely written.
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Thanks, Laurie
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Ouch. He’s probably there avoiding the diner too 🙂
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Yes, they’d both taken the same evasive action. Cheers Draliman
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Perfect portrait of a small town. With only a few places to go, it’s hard not to run into people. Especially people you’d rather not run into.
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Thank you. You’re right, trying to avoid people in a small place can be problematic
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What fun! I loved the reveal, with its play on words.
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Thank you very much, Penny
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A twist of fate, to be sure. I wonder if they’ll find a way to make the best of it?
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They have to otherwise several people will get hurt, themselves and their current partners, it’s a no win situation. Thanks for commenting.
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I wonder if it’s not time to make up and at least be friends.
Well done.
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Maybe, thanks for reading
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my pleasure
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Maybe they’ll experience all that good stuff again.
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They’re trying to do the ‘right’ thing but I think they’ll fail. Thanks for commenting
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If you want to hear God laugh, make a plan. Having control is at best an illusion.
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That’s exactly the situation they find themselves in, thank you for your comment
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You never know who you will meet in a cafe, I liked the way this piece flowed
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Thank you, Mike
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Maybe it’s time she stopped avoiding dear John.
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I think it’s inevitable. Thanks, Bjorn
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