Ahead of me, she peers through the patterned window of the tea-shop. She’ll hate arriving first, as would I, but enters anyway.
I hesitate, wondering why I’m here.
Does either of us really have an appetite for this reunion, for reminiscing, revisiting roads not travelled, the gates to them now closed by the years? Do I really need to remember who I was, how I was…
The doorbell chimes again. She’s decided to leave without seeing me.
“Ellen…” I call.
“Grace!”
We re-enter the tea-shop giggling, arm in arm.
Affectionate nostalgia overwhelms us – hopefully arming us for the fray ahead.
The photo is a prompt from 7 years ago, but my story is a new one. I was going to re-post my old entry but I see not many people understood it. And, frankly, nor did I at first re-reading. 😦 Sometimes you can be just too obscure for your own good. Thanks to Rochelle, our Friday Fictioneer leader.
A beautifully-observed moment
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Neil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done, a reunion after many years can be tricky, I had one a couple of weeks ago and it was really fun, seeing them soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes it works, often it doesn’t. If you keep moving often enough, as we’ve done, the question of reunions seldom arises as you’re always somewhere different
LikeLiked by 2 people
Delightful!
And I love that you didn’t understand your own story, a recurring situation for me…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, CE. Thankfully it doesn’t happen too frequently, or I’d be getting worried. 🙂
LikeLike
Reunions can go either way. I hope theirs went well 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve left it open. Hopefully it will. 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Sandra,
This hits home with me. A few years back some former classmates decided to meet. I hadn’t seen them since HS and was never in their social circle. I arrived late after making a last minute decision to go. Never regretted it. How much we changed in 40 years.
Love your story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad yours worked out well for you. I’ve never really had to consider the matter of reunions, we never seem to go back to places in our past. Have a good few weeks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reunions can be fraught with difficulty. Thought provoking piece of writing, Sandra.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLike
They can certainly go either way. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Sounds like a lot of old history between them. I hope old wounds aren’t reopened.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a recognisable feeling, I’m glad your narrator took the plunge and called out and I love how they are instantly giggling and close, papering over the nerves.
It’s so nice to read you again, Sandra.
Jen
LikeLike
Lovely to see you back on here, Jen. Hope all is well with the family. Yes I can identify with the conflict of emotions. Not sure whether I might just have stayed silent and let it play out.
LikeLike
Oh, fab!
LikeLike
Thanks, Sue. Hope all is well with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, thanks…hope you are good
LikeLike
This is lovely, I can only hope it went well. I had a reunion with workmates after 40 years recently. We won’t be having another one!
LikeLike
You know, that’s the kind of way I imagine such events going… Maybe it’s the cynic in me.
Like
Happy they didn’t miss the opportunity to reconnect. It can be daunting, but often rewarding.
LikeLike
Yes, it’s something of a quandary isn’t it. Letting the past lie or picking up the threads again. Not sure where I stand on that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whereas I have reposted mine from seven years ago! I like your two friends – I hope their reunion is the restarting point.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Liz. I can’t believe it’s 7 years, can you?
LikeLike
And who hasn’t been in a similar situation. In the end, it is that long standing acquaintance/friendship with someone that really matters. Thanks for this!
LikeLike
Many thanks for reading. Hope you are both well.
LikeLike
I love how you convey the anxiety and the awkwardness of this kind of reunion. Nice they did not walk away in the end.
LikeLike
Yes, it’s a situation that might raise many conflicting emotions. Thanks for reading, Gabriella.
LikeLike
Ah, Sandra, the complicated realities of some reunions … Something tells me that one of them may be in town and had suggested it, and perhaps not in the best time for the other … May it be more good than bad for them. …
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, always!
LikeLike
Great story! I also confess to sometimes not understanding my own stories. (Or not remembering what on earth I meant by them.)
LikeLike
Glad I’m not alone there then. 🙂 Thanks or reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This line jumps out at me: “Do I really need to remember who I was, how I was…” Long-lost friends and relatives are good for triggering all of that. Good capture of thoughts and emotions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
for old times’s sake. hopefully, it works for both of them. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How funny you didn’t “get” your own story from back there.
These reunions can be such a stress-inducer – and often for no good reason.
I love how you’ve brought us into this.
LikeLike
Yes, I’m not big on reunions. I’ve even been known to change direction to avoid them. 🙂 Thanks for reading, sorry to be late acknowledging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is no late 😉
LikeLike
I think we’ve all been in this situation. Relatable, well done!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know the feeling. What are you supposed to say after decades of silence?
LikeLike
In my case, it’s usually ‘sorry’ 😦 Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
I’ve been a similar situation, but once we met up it was just like it always was. I hope it’s the same for your protagonists, they’re off to a good start!
LikeLike
Hopefully so. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
There’s a fray ahead? Oh, dear. Humans! What are we to do? Good story. I enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yer welcome.
LikeLike
A story about the feelings one has when reuniting with someone from long ago.
I could feel the anticipation. Let’s hope it does work out for them. Sometimes, it doesn’t.
Be Safe … Isadora 😎
LikeLike
You take care too, Isadora. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the warmth continues. Good story 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Linda.
LikeLike
Affectionate nostalgia, that in itself is worth a lot. Nice story Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? You never know unless you try. Some reunions are awkward and some are like you were never apart.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Old friendships are delightful. There’s joy in remembering, even the not so great stuff, together. I enjoyed your story.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The reunions that DID work for me were the ones I didn’t expect anything good of, so I’m glad she decided to take the shot. Who was it said, I only regret the chances I didn’t take?
LikeLike
Yes, sometimes the meetings you dread turn out to be the best. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
I great little snippet, which had me thinking of past reunions,
LikeLike
Thanks for reading.
LikeLike