This mini story was written for Weekend Freewrite. I had so much fun with my last prompt ('Revenge') that I came back for more. This weekend we have a choice of prompts :
birthday
where are you going?
microphone
revenge
sewing scissors
bear
I thought I'd make the challenge even more fun by using all six suggested prompts. This may have come out a bit contrived, but it does make sense, sort of. Hope you find the short narrative entertaining.
Turning Point
His 40th birthday. One of those landmark years. A turning point, perhaps, where some people ask themselves, “Where are you going?” It's one of those taking stock years. You look back. You look forward. You realize all the things you'd planned on doing—there's a narrow window for accomplishing them. Good things. And not so good.
Emile realized he had so much to be grateful for. And then...thoughts of those who had wronged him. He'd nursed the desire to have his revenge. Would he ever get the chance?
As he stood in front of the room with his hand on the microphone, he took a deep breath. The speech. The birthday speech that was supposed to express gratitude for life, for family, for opportunity. But he had his own idea of how to make this a memorable moment.
He stroked the sewing scissors in his pocket. They were small enough to tuck away. He eyed Raul. Those eyes, that sensual smile that had seduced so many women. And now these weapons of destruction had been turned against him.
A 40th birthday. Perfect time for the kind of surprise Emile planned. He wouldn't have to bear it any more. The duplicity. The sneaking around. The lies. The lies.
Just as everyone thought he was about to begin the speech, Emile stepped forward. He gripped the scissors more firmly, and moved out of the spotlight. This would indeed be a turning point in his life.