Writing Prompt: I need to talk to you.

Morning all. Let’s just jump into the morning prompt and see where it takes us. Timers set and off we go.

I like the idea of someone being relieved they were dumped and I just started to get an idea where this story was going once I reached the end. Then of course the timer went off. So I’ll be jotting a few notes before moving on. I also don’t think this is the beginning of the story.

Wednesday, August 6^th: I need to talk to you.

“I need to talk to you,” Dan said. 

The words were ominous and Emily felt her body clench.  She nodded, wondering what was going on.  She and Dan had been dating off an on for a while now.  He didn’t want a commitment, and she was too busy to worry over much about it.  She saw the time her friends gave to their respective partners and knew that at the moment, she simply had neither the time nor the inclination to give it to a relationship.

She was pleased with their casual dating.

Dan walked her over to the bench and they sat down.  He took a deep breath.  “I’ve been offered a really good position with a great company,  It wasn’t something I could turn down so I accepted.”

“That’s really great,” she said.  She started to relax as the news appeared to be good.

“It means I will be moving,” he told her. 

“Oh,” Emily said.

He favored her with sad eyes.  “I am so sorry, but I think…” he swallowed, took another deep breath.  “I think it best if we break up.  I am no good at the long-distance thing and for the next few months I will really need to focus.”

“Oh, I see,” Emily said.

“Please don’t cry,” he said.

Emily blinked, her eyes not feeling overly moist, let alone tearing up. 

“I’ll miss you, but I think this is for the best.”

Emily searched for words.  “If you think so,” were the ones she grasped.  Dan smiled softly at her.

“I knew you would understand.  I’ll miss you and maybe someday, but not now. Goodbye Emily.”

“Goodbye,” Emily said.  “I’m sure you will do great at your new job.”

“Thanks for being so great,” he said. 

Message delivered, Dan left.  Emily remained on the bench thinking through Dan’ announcement.  Now that he was gone she found herself somewhat relieved.  She watched the wind sway the branches in the tree across from the bench and realized there was a brief moment where she thought he was going to ask her to go with him.  That through upset her more than his leaving. 

‘If it was love, I suppose I would be upset.’

She had loved before and when things ended those losses were painful.  Losing Dan…wasn’t.

“I suppose it is for the best then.”

Emily chewed her lip.  She didn’t mind losing Dan but realized losing him would set off a chain of events.  There would be friendly sympathy from friends who were in steady relationships.  There would of course be the ‘you are better off without him’ lines from those who didn’t think Dan was right for her in the first place. Then there would be a small interval of quiet before the others would start introducing her to the single friends of their significant others. 

“Which is how I ended up with Dan in the first place.” Emily shrugged.  She was introduced to him after a decent interval after the Peter Break up. Peter had hurt as that break up was caused because she caught him cheating on her.  “At least this one doesn’t hurt,” she thought.  She did wonder if there was a way to stave off the eventual singles introductions.  “At least until this next project is through.”