Lights, Camera, Action!

It was an unusually cool Texan summer night.

Joanne was sitting on the steps on her front porch, which had taken on a new coat of white paint just for tonight. But it didn't matter anymore, Joanne thought as she tried to wipe away the tears welling up in her eyes. She rubbed her eyes roughly with her knuckles and instead of wiping away the tears, it just caused the stinging sensation to worsen.

All Joanne wanted to do was run, run away and never return again - never return to snide sneers from those who say they loved her but loved to make her miserable. Even Westin, her boyfriend who turned up at her birthday party with a bouquet of roses in his right hand and Mich hanging loosely onto his left arm.

Liars. All of them.

Joanne hit the stairs with a fist as she tasted the first drops of saltiness from the tears flowing down.

Now Westin's inside, flirting with Mich who was supposed to be her best friend. Joanne could almost hear Mich's high pitched squeals of delight as Westin whispered lames jokes and smooth pickup lines. She couldn't take it anymore - the betrayal, the humiliation.

Hunching over, she buried her face into her wet palms and let what seemed like forever pass her by.

Then, suddenly, Joanne sat straight as if a bolt of lightning struck her from the branches of the low hanging apple tree. With newfound resolve, she stood up, no longer sniffling in self-pity. She had to go back in.

I just want to let them know that they didn't break me.

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Behind the Scenes.

The last line that really struck me came from the old show, Pretty in Pink. I just thought the confidence to be authentic and real to one's self, the steely determination not to let taunts and insults get to you, was beautifully encapsulated there.

To provide context, it was uttered by the main character Andie after she got ditched by her prom date because she was laughed at for being "trash". She still decided to go for prom with or without him, to let him and his upper class friends know they didn't break her spirit.

If you're interested, this is a link:

Does this line resonate with you too? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Anyway, this post is to commemorate one year of 5 Minute Freewrite! I got to know of this group pretty late into the first year, but I'm glad I did - I have been changed for good. Better late than never, right?

So, thank you @mariannewest and @improv for this initiative! May it continue past today - Day 366 and beyond!

Here's the birthday selfie:

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Resteems and upvotes are always appreciated!