They Can Never Be
February 8, 2023 at 2:42 pm 36 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge: 10 February 2023
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| Photo Credit: Roger Bultot |
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Austin drew the heart on the bench vouching for his undying love. It made her sad that she couldn’t reciprocate.
“Layla, “I found you a suitable husband,” she recalled her father telling her.
“Oh.”
“Do you want to see his picture?”
“I’m good, Dad. I trust your judgment.”
When she told her friend about it, she remarked, “It seems unfair that he made the choice for you.”
“Not at all,” she replied. “It’s been part of our culture and tradition.”
“What about Austin?”
“What about him? We can never be. It’s time for him to let go and move on.”
Entry filed under: Blogroll, Daily Post, friday fictioneers. Tags: 100-word challenge, fiction.
Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
neilmacdon | February 9, 2023 at 1:05 am
An accepting nature, For now
2.
plaridel | February 9, 2023 at 8:49 am
neil:
i think i know where you’re going. 🙂
3.
Iain Kelly | February 9, 2023 at 1:05 am
She is very accepting of her culture which denies her what she wants. I wonder what Austin really feels.
4.
plaridel | February 9, 2023 at 8:48 am
iain:
he was heartbroken for sure.
5.
Mason Bushell | February 9, 2023 at 1:05 am
Sometimes going separate ways is the only option. Well done!
6.
plaridel | February 9, 2023 at 8:48 am
mason:
sadly, it was true in this case.
7.
James McEwan | February 9, 2023 at 1:43 am
A different point of view, will she be happy?
8.
plaridel | February 9, 2023 at 8:47 am
james:
i have two friends who were married that way and they seem to be happy.
9.
Sandra | February 9, 2023 at 3:23 am
Everybody happy except Austin, I guess.
10.
plaridel | February 9, 2023 at 8:46 am
sandra:
she wasn’t happy either but she had to abide by her father’s wishes.
11.
CGraith | February 9, 2023 at 4:29 am
She must have been stringing Austin along to let go with just a tinge of sadness.
12.
plaridel | February 9, 2023 at 8:45 am
clare:
such is life.
13.
Justawriter | February 10, 2023 at 4:50 am
Your story captures a sad reality that’s all too prevalent, especially in the country I’m from.
14.
plaridel | February 10, 2023 at 9:29 am
justawriter:
i’m sure an arranged marriage has its pros and cons. we can only hope for the best.
15.
Bill | February 10, 2023 at 6:00 am
I like this girl.
She was right. Dad knows best. But the romantic in me want the picture to be of Austin.
But Austin also needs to move on. Unrequited love sucks.
16.
plaridel | February 10, 2023 at 9:28 am
bill:
for better or worse, she was a realist.
17.
Bill | February 10, 2023 at 3:20 pm
Agree.
18.
plaridel | February 13, 2023 at 10:06 am
bill:
🙂
19.
rochellewisoff | February 10, 2023 at 7:15 am
Dear Plaridel,
Layla obviously accepts her life and even welcomes it. Poor Austin. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
20.
plaridel | February 10, 2023 at 9:28 am
rochelle:
i’m sure her dad has her best interests at heart.
21.
Dale | February 10, 2023 at 7:27 am
She is pragmatic, that’s for sure. I suppose if the guy her father has for her is a good man, she will have a good life Maybe, they will even fall in love. People get married with less.
22.
plaridel | February 10, 2023 at 9:28 am
dale:
i’m sure her dad did his homework. he found the right match for her.
23.
Dale | February 10, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Possibly.
24.
plaridel | February 13, 2023 at 10:07 am
dale:
🙂
25.
poetisatinta | February 10, 2023 at 9:24 am
Poor Austin I hope he finds the right one 🙂
26.
plaridel | February 10, 2023 at 9:29 am
poetisatinta:
like they say, there are more fish in the ocean. 🙂
27.
michael1148humphris | February 10, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Such is life,.. I enjoyed reading your take on the prompt
28.
plaridel | February 13, 2023 at 10:06 am
michael:
thank you for your kind comment. much appreciated.
29.
Tannille | February 12, 2023 at 10:51 pm
She sounds cold. Oh well…
30.
plaridel | February 13, 2023 at 10:05 am
tannille:
in a way, she does, but, deep within, who knows?
31.
msjadeli | February 13, 2023 at 5:07 pm
I hope Layla wasn’t leading him on. Heartbreak is part of life for most at least once. I hope Austin doesn’t suffer his loss for too long. Wishing them both happiness.
32.
plaridel | February 15, 2023 at 1:57 pm
msjadeli:
who knows? everything might turn out well for both of them.
33.
Dawn M. Miller | February 13, 2023 at 5:45 pm
She certainly seems unfazed. Perhaps she never really had feelings for Austin.
34.
plaridel | February 15, 2023 at 1:57 pm
dawn:
i guess we’d never know for sure.
35.
Nan Falkner | February 18, 2023 at 8:31 pm
Poor Austin! Sad story – but well written!
36.
plaridel | February 20, 2023 at 7:02 pm
nan:
i’m glad you liked it. much appreciated.