© irene waters 2015
Jake and I did everything together and told each other all our secrets. We knew the other as though we were one. We discussed our boyfriends and girlfriends, often going on double dates together. We solved the world’s problems and many of our own. Having similar interests it made sense to go to the theatre, opera, hikes, everything together. Above all else, we made each other laugh. Life was fun, enhanced by each other’s company. We were best friends.
Bosom buddies until he planned a trip to the Philippines to find a bride. Then I knew I loved him.
In response to Charli’s prompt for this week:
September 16, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a love story. Explore what feeds love. It can be romantic or platonic. It can be devoted or damaged. It can be recovering or enduring. Focus on characters or setting, weaving a 99-word love story.
Respond by September 22, 2015 to be included in the weekly compilation. Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Oh yes. The day before I got married, an old boyfriend told me he loved me and asked me to reconsider. Of course, he was a bit drunk. Thankfully I wasn’t.
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So it happens in real life too. Glad you weren’t tipsy to be toppled at the last minute.
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What a dumb head! I heard from friends on my marriage day that an old boyfriend was lamenting he’s never told me he loved me, and missed his chance. We remained good friends over the years and talked often on the phone right up until he died
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Yes it must happen more often than one realises. Glad you managed to stay friends for life.
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I hope she told him and he didn’t go. Friendship is the foundation that helps a marriage last a lifetime.
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That would be my plan if I were writing it further. Yes friendship is a great basis for continued happiness.
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I hope she has the sense to tell him how she feels. If he still decides to go, she will at least be without the haunting “what if” wonder.
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I think both were so engrossed with their friendship that they had realised that deeper feelings had crept in. I’m sure she told him.
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Yah, I was with you (all romantic and stuff) up until the “planned a trip to the Philippines to find a bride”. I’m questioning him. And her judgment. Tell me I’m misreading this. Please. 😉
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Up until now there had been no romance. They would have laughed at the suggestion that men and women can never just be friends for here they were living proof that they could be.I think it was simply a case of they were such good friends that they had no idea that love of a different kind had developed without their knowledge. Her jealousy, when he told her what his plan was to find someone to share his entire life(remember they had been dating other people) , alerted her to the fact that she loved him.
If I was continuing to write she would tell him and perhaps give him the first passionate kiss from her and well, things would go from there.
Now you have to tell me if you were misreading (although there is no such thing. If the author can’t convey what they mean and let the reader skip down the garden path by themselves then they didn’t lead too well.)
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I got all of that. It was beautiful. (And well done.) I was thinking he was “finding” himself a bride, not traveling to hopefully meet someone. If you get me.
Yes, I loved this building up of friendship into a reality slap of “OMG! I love him! He can’t go!” ❤
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Yes. Which it was I have no idea. I don’t think I’d thought through that fine distinction fully enough.
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Don’t know why my mind went there. Sorry. I ruined your beautiful story.
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Your mind can go where ever it wants Sarah and you certainly didn’t spoil my story. I’m glad you share your thoughts with me as they then make me question further my narrative and that can only be a good thing.
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It’s sad how often we don’t realize what we have until we’re about to lose it, or have lost it. I only hope he feels the same way about her so they can figure it out.
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If I were continuing the story I would have her telling him before he got on that plane.
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Sometimes we forget that our best friend can be our love interest too. It’s a thought-provoking flash that makes me think that we don’t always seek friendship in a proper marriage. I can say in my own marriage we like to do some of the same things for different reasons!
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I think friendship is a really good basis for marriage but it doesn’t mean you have to do everything the same. I dance and Roger golfs. Neither of us minds that we do these by ourselves but those things we do together we do as friends.
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Beautiful flash! – Very Harry and Sally 🙂
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Thank you. Yes I hadn’t thought about Harry and Sally but I can see it.
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Ah…some times we are blind to what is right in front of us.
I had two instances where I was the fall back…of almost broken romances. Each time the gent went back to the first love. I didn’t go back to my first crush. And for me that was a good thing 😉
Thanks for stopping by. And best to you too! Humor is the glue of successful relationships.
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Yes you have to be able to laugh.
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Even before I got to the end… I recognised the soon to be problem! Well done! Wonderful belly chuckles!
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Thanks Roger. From the comments I think this happens more than we think. Glad you had a chuckle.
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