CHOOSE

"Say it again."

"Will you kiss me if I do?" 

"Not a chance. But I might think about it." 

"Someone's coming." 

"So?"

"So, what if they hear what I say?"

"Are you embarrassed by your declaration?"

"No."

"Then tell the world how much you love rich, dark chocolate."  

"Couldn't I just repeat it to you?"

"Do you want me?"

"Yes."

"And that kiss?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then tell it to the world."

"I'll be ostracized. No one will ever look at me the same again."

"It won't be so bad. You'll have me."

"But..."

"Choose."

"I can't do it." 

"Then you lose me... forever!"

"We're so different." 

"Is that bad?"

"I promised I'd never fall in love with the likes of you."

"The likes of me? Variety is the spice of life. Do you want to live?"

"Yes, but I'll lose my friends, my reputation. Don't laugh." 

"I'm not. That was a sob. You'll die. Stuck in the same place, until your death, never doing what you want."

"I just approached you. I told you how I felt."

"Now tell everyone else." 

"Oh, my God, Christopher! Why are you covered in chocolate? You promised never to go there." 

"Crap! Did you eat my giant, dark chocolate bunny?"

"She seduced me. And why would you keep that in the house? You know I can't control myself."

"You are the cause of my defeat. This was a test. Wasn't it? Are you smiling?!"

"This is about weeding out the weak, Chris. Ha, and you were talking to the chocolate. It's all on tape."

"Are you serious? This is a hell of a support group. I'm gonna sue you! I don't know if there's a law against taping someone unbeknownst to their knowledge, but I'm going to find out."

"Ha, you don't have a bunny to stand on!" 

"Hilarious, Chloe. Let me just say that bunny was better than any part of this three and a half year relationship. That bunny was sweet where you're a bitter, vindictive creature. That bunny was comforting where you're frigid and heartless."

"You say that now that you're caught. Wait until the others —."

"You're all a bunch of freaks. How in the world I got caught up in this absurd cause is beyond me. Evil chocolate ruining our society? You almost had me Chloe, with your milk chocolate skin and those hazelnut-colored eyes. You're a fraud. A fraud."

"Shake your head, and run me down, but I've got the goods on you. You knew the rules." 

"Wow, you are one icy —."

"Sticks and stones, Chris. Sticks and stone."

"Yep, I'm outta here. Left you a little something to remember me by in the bedroom. In the words of Bruce Willis Yippee ki-yi-ya."  

"Chris-s-s!" 

I wrote this countless years ago. Way before Amber Heard did what she did on Johnny Depp’s bed! I write by the seat of my pants. I never have a plan, plot, or a process on how things will progress — no inkling what will emerge when I sit down before my keyboard and a blank screen. I participated in a writing challenge where only dialogue was allowed. Make of it what you will!

To all who stop by to read my work, I’m appreciative ... truly and I am sincerely thankful you did!

Nedra Russell © All Rights Reserved 2024