Five minute free write - The red scarf
![Lola 9 SMALL.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPG6gcEjBxbAnkxV2JaEiTkJeLDLC552VUWwS8HDYYM6r/Lola%209%20SMALL.jpg)
First, I just need to say I wish I had another minute or so to end this the way that I wanted.
I promise, there was a happy ending in mind for this fellow, a lesson learn, hope gained, a future imagined. But, that damn 5 minute timer on The most dangerous writing app is pretty unforgiving. And I'll only do so much after the timer ends. Gotta stick to the rules.
So, without further ado, my story about 'the red scarf.'
He sat there on the cold stairs of the stoop.
Just holding it. Around him the world a mottled gray. But in his hand, life. Brilliant, a star in the night, a focal point for so much good that had happened.
Her red scarf.
It had only been a few minutes since she had placed it in his hand and turned her back for the last time. So few words, so simple, yet some of the hardest he'd ever had to try and comprehend.
Years. Years... He turned it over and over in his hands.
It would have been better had she kept it. That meant there would have been a chance. Some vague, interstellar hope of them getting back together. But she had known what she was doing. She knew how to end the story with no room for interpetation.
That red scarf. The moment where he had fallen truly in love for the first time. The purchase had been offhand, at some random market on some weekend, the exact where and when lost to history. She probably remembered.
But it had been the turning point for him. He had found it in hismelf to finally open to the possibilities of wonder, of love, of trust.
And those times had been amazing. Endless hours of her smile, that laugh, those eyes looking into his. Her hand, filled with life, the electric current as they held each other.
Again, he folded the scarf. Still in shock from that moment. When, looking into his eyes she had said, 'it's over.'
I hope you enjoyed that. :)
It's kinda sad, but you can imagine where it goes from there. What a normal person would do. Might do. Good, bad, healthy, unhealthy, hehe. All up to you since the timer dinged on my turn.
Once again, big thanks to @mariannewest for keeping this together for 121 days...and counting. Thanks to her Five minute free write I've met a lot of awesome people and a lot of awesome writers. I've also been forced to try a lot of things I'd never thought I would try. That whole prompt thing adding a whole new and interesting dimension to the process.
I hope everyone has an amazing day!
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photo is of Lola, an amazing person and an amazing model that I had the opportunity to work with a while back
He had been so shocked he had not said a thing when she handed it over.......
His mind filled with empty space as the last sound of her mouth was heard. He was as still as a pond on a warm summer day while his hands had automatically grabbed the red scarf.
He was sitting all alone still holding the scarf when it hit him what she had really said.
His hands balled the scarf up to his nose, smelling the sweet earthy smell of her and knew he could not live without her.
Looking up at the stars above he was surprised how little time had passed. In his head, he had already lived two lifetimes of misery for letting her get away.
Shoving the scarf into his pocket he turned right, starting to run.
Hmmmmmmmm..............what comes next @brisby?
He was such an idiot! He should have listened to what she had been telling him! Instead, the moment, "It's over" had passed her lips, he had become deaf to all but the roaring of his fears. That devastating wave of doubts and insecurities crashing over him, drowning his trust in himself and in them.
Racing through a crosswalk, a sharp "Hey!!" from a bystander registered before the lights of oncoming cars. He hit the safety of the other side and sped on, the blare of horns faint compared to the pounding of his heart.
That was why she'd left her scarf. Nothing else would have done. The bright red lifeline, full of memories and of hope, was strong enough to cut through the sea of gray and pull him back to shore. Back to the wonder of her smile and the firm faith in their love.
Up ahead, he saw her. Feet slamming on the pavement, he ran towards his rock, towards the warmth only her spark could give.
Well now, what will happen when he catches her? Take it away @deaconlee!!
His heart hammered in his ears. He wasn't sure he yelled out her name but he must have. She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around. Everyone around him stared with wide eyes wondering if they should step in and protect this beautiful young woman or what it was this crazy wild man was chasing her for. Love, pure, simple, wholehearted love.
His heart didn't stop pounding as he slowed behind her. He waited, panting behind her, eyes blurry from the tears threatening their escape. The thought of losing her bringing out a fear he hadn't known existed. He felt it deep down in his soul. An earth-shattering feeling he'd never felt before, and hoped to never feel again. He only saw a future with her, the one without just couldn't be possible, wouldn't be possible.
"I can't live without you." He panted. He held the scarf in his hands still. He slowly walked the rest of the way up to her and wrapped it around her from behind. Seeing she didn't protest his touch he wrapped his arms around her waste from behind, "You are my world." His voice cracks as the tears pool in his eyes. One drops to her shoulder as he rests his head there, breathing in her fresh, citrus scent he'd grown so accustomed to. He longed for this scent, as if he had already lost it, it was still here, she was still here...
I do as I'm told from my aunt @snook so that was my input! @deaconlee, hopefully your ideas can continue from here!!
Hey Bud, cried the shop owner coming out on the sidewalk, what are you doing to my mannequin, he asked? The man backed away, tears still forming in his eyes. He once again pulled out the now faded scarf, he was insane he knew, he had spent years searching for her, reliving every moment over and over again. It always ended the same, someone who looked like her, the same hair color and style, the same type clothes. Now he was seeing her as inanimate objects. What could he do? He would continue to ride the subways and walk the streets in hope, the only hope that he had. One day, one day he would find her and when he did he would never let her walk away again, he loved her and now he knew that he always had.
Cool story, I tag @mariannewest to continue the story! 😎
The realization hit him like a rock and he needed to sit down. Until now, it was always a feeling, a fancy, which had made him run after her even though she was a dream.
Wrapping the scarf around the manequin.
Now, he had to do something - either admit to himself that he was going crazy or do something about his feeling.
He knew beyond a doubt that he loved her.
But she had walked away from him and said it was over.
Did she mean it? Or was she testing him to see if he would fight for her?
He had failed miserably if she wanted him to fight. It had been years now that he had used the red scarf as an excuse.
Was he ready?
He just sat there, staring in front of him without seeing a thing.
Thoughts were racing. But slowly, very slowly, he started to concentrate on his breath. With each breath, the swirling thoughts slowed down just a little bit.
Breath in, breath out - just as she had told him over and over when she wanted to teach him how to meditate. Of course, then, he didn't want anything to do with it.
Now, sitting there feeling he had reached his lowest point, her voice seemed to guide him and this time, he followed her instructions.
Breath in, slowly, notice your lungs filling with air, notice you stomach expanding. Hold your breath. Exhale, slowly, mindfully.
Her voice was clear.
He followed the guidance and soon, all he did was breathing and watching himself breath.
His mind grew calmer and calmer. Happiness. Was that what they called happiness? He was feeling different than he had in many months - maybe years.
He felt like her voice was still guiding him as the understanding grew within him that he was whole. He didn't need her anymore.
He was ready to meet her as an equal.
Now, all he had to do was to find her and tell her that he was good. That he had understood. He was in charge of his happiness.
He knew that now, it would be easy to find her.
After meeting, they might never speak again or live their lives together - and either way will be perfect.
@byn take it away LOL
Now it was just a matter of finding her... after looking for so long, was it even possible anymore? No. He couldn't think like that anymore. He was different. If it was meant to be, he'd find her.
He apologized to the shop owner and turned to walk away when the man yelled at him, "Hey, Mister, you forgot your scarf!"
He hesitated for split second, "It's okay. I don't need it anymore..." and he walked across the street to the coffeeshop on the corner.
It was as if he was walking on a cloud. His obsession, his drive, his absolute NEED for her had been driving him for so long that he hadn't even realized what he was doing, who HE was anymore. He'd focused so hard on her being the answer to all of his problems, that he'd ignored everything within himself. He'd lost himself completely.
Something shifted inside of him and there was a spring in his step as he stepped into the coffeeshop. It was time for him to get to know himself again. To work on HIM and figure out what He wanted to do with his life. If he was ever to see her again, he wanted to be whole, to be strong and to be standing firmly on the ground on his own two feet.
He ordered his coffee and pulled his laptop out of his bag. For the first time since he'd met her, he felt inspired to write. To pour out his heart and his soul on the page and find himself again.
He was typing nonstop for so long that the barista came over and asked if he needed anything. He just muttered and grunted something at her and she went away again.
Absorbed in his personal exploration, he didn't notice the woman stopped across the street. She was staring in the window at the mannequin with the red scarf. Her friend was trying to pull her along, but she stood as if frozen to the sidewalk. It was her scarf... HIS scarf. The love she had lost... the love that hadn't fought for her.
Tears coursed down her face as she stood, remembering. The feelings, the love coursing through her veins and bringing her back to life again.
Her friend finally took her hand and said, "Hey, let's go... there's a coffeeshop right there on the corner. Let's go get off our feet for a while and you'll feel better. I just know it."
And together the two women walked towards the coffeeshop and towards Fate.
@snook you're welcome! :)
Just beautiful! I love that ending! Great job everyone!! And thanks to @mikesthoughts for such a good time!!
awwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeee <3 Now I AM crying tears of Joy.
Speechless really <3 Love You!
I like to keep you on your toes! Never knowing what to expect :) Plus, how could I make you cry after all that??? <3 <3 <3
This ending or almost ending Is beautiful. And isn't this just how life happens? I really enjoy this piece a lot!
thank you for making snook happy!!!!!! ❤️ 🙏
How could I do anything else? I thought she deserved some sweetness in her day. ;)
Fantastic Byn!! I think that it is perfect that he came around to realize that he needed to figure out his own answers! Stories are so much better when we get to see the growth of the character! (And you're a sweetie for putting Snook out of her misery!)
Bravo @byn, that was awesome 👏👏😊
But you forgot to tell them about the speeding bus...☠️ 😏
Wooohoo @byn! You brought this to a happy ending :) So glad to see that fate was working in both of their favors.
Fabulous work Marianne! I like how you wrote the dawning of his understanding!!
I think we all did very well on this story :) You saved him from being hit by a car @brisby LOL
there is no hope
Beautiful and so wise! searching for that inner happiness, you nailed it!
Bwaahahaha! ! What a twist! Poor Snook is going to have to wait even longer for her happy ending! Nice work Deaconlee!!!
Awwww. Nice work @Deconlee! I hope he finds her, OR moves on lol. Guess we'll see!😉
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
<swear word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>
Pfffffff Bwahahaha! !! Sorry Snook but, that is hilarious! now we need some zombies...
@mariannewest tagged @byn we are doomed sniff, sniff
Oh! What a Twist you have brought to the story! I am really enjoying this continuation.
So lovely Bleedinheart! Like a scene straight out of a romantic movie! (Then Deacon got his turn! LOL!!)
it's all your fault @brisby LOLLLLLLLLLLLL
omg...like, missed all the Ginabot notifications...what the heck happened here? lol. Gonna have a lot of fun going back and reading all that story!! @snook @brisby @mariannewest @deaconlee @bleedinheart You have me some reading for tonight :) :) :) thanks yous
Your very welcome sir! Lol enjoy!
You're welcome! I hope that you have as much fun reading it as we did writing it!
I so did! No words. Really. Never saw something like that happen before...so cool :) Thanks for being a part of it.
I know! 😜
Hahahaha thank you!! Thats what made it interesting! Hopefully we will see a happy ending for the poor guy lol
Awesome pace and perfect execution!
Beautifully written addition to the story!
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment!!
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The ending was so abrupt, did he kill himself? Hope he didn't; please Tell him I have some chocolates that my help him forget 😥
Oh hell no! lol. No suicide here. Heart break is a part of life, and while the first time might be really hard, it's a learning experience. That's the end point I wanted to make, but the timer wouldn't let me :\
And, yeah, your chocolates would make him forget...everything :)
Thanks for coming by!
It was an awesome read man
Can't find the blush emoji, lol
This was a nice read, a bit sad and yet makes me curious.
It is...I know. Wanted it to have a happy ending but that dang time! lol
A penny for a minute of your thoughts lol. 😉
Thanks! More like five minutes of my thoughts ;) I give good word bargains here, lol.
Well, I was looking for a little extra to finish the story lol. Nice job! 😉
you got your request lollllllll be careful what you ask for :D hugs
So far so good guys, keep doing his freewrite justice! Hopefully a happy ending! @mikesthoughts I thought it was a great freewrite, would have loved to see what you would have came up with! Bravo! Cheers!
Stop right there my beautiful niece and write your part of the story and @Deaconlee can pick up where you left off....and welcome to freewrting and your Aunt liking happy endings loll
Haha, Yes Ma'am. I am on it! <3
Lol, I turn away for a couple minutes...
@deaconlee My bad, looks like @snook got to it first, hehe.
@bleedinheart Thanks! :) Looks like you've been called out, lol.
You capture his pain and sadness in these words! To have so much and then lose it... Well done!
But hopefully he will find it again in the future :) Thanks for stopping by.
Damn timer! His devastation over her words and the return of the scarf comes through and is heartbreaking. As to the rest of the story, who decides what is healthy? There can be more than one interpretation to what she did. :)
Lol. Yeah, a constant battle with that timer. Sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate it. The whole story as to why they broke up, never really thought about. First love is always one of those fickle things, hehe. Thanks for coming by :)
A real venture into sentiment :-) A moment in time, a memory, a sensation and a dream. Excellent :)
Hehe, I love playing with emotions and memories :) Hoping to start making them seem happier soon!
Don't worry, I'm sure they will evolve in their own way at their own time; as do we :)
What a Beautiful story! I really enjoyed this red scarf episode. Yes it is sad and these things happen, but it's always hard on the one who's left behind holding the red scarf?
Lol, gold star for you. The way you ended your comment had me laughing. Struck me like when they say the title of the movie in the movie :)
Haha! This collaboration just blew me away! And it all started with you <3 well done!