I love Chicago! Just thought I would tell you. We went there years ago and spent a week in the city before travelling on to Utah – don’t ask… Huge thanks to Rochelle for continuing to host Friday Fictioneers and supporting everyone who takes part.
Finally, my very best wishes to you all for a healthy and prosperous 2015
Copyright Jean L Hays
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100
Starting Over
The bag was heavy but Molly dragged it to the station. Her face turned towards the sun, its warmth flowed through her body, easing the pain. Cosmic pain relief, she laughed out loud at the simplicity of it.
On the train she ripped up the left-luggage receipt and gently took out the torn and crumpled letter. It had been hidden, but not well enough. Eventually she had retrieved it. Carefully, she smoothed out the creases until she could read his words.
On the platform she scanned the faces of strangers, looking for him.
He was there, as he had promised.
…………………………….
“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” – Charlotte Whitton
40again's Blog 
Dear Dee,
Nice to see you back and with a happy ending besides. Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Its good to be back in the FF fold.
I think a happy ending was overdue.
Take care
Dee
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Dee- please forgive my being dense-but who owns the bag?
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The bag belongs to Molly. It contains her old life which she has dumped in left-luggage. Sorry if I was a bit vague.
Good to hear from you as always.
Dee
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Lovely. I like ‘cosmic pain relief’ -a nice idea. I’m glad he was waiting, and I’d love to know more about her. She’s an intriguing character.
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Hi Margaret
Wasn’t sure when I started writing it if he would be waiting.
Molly has left an abusive relationship to try and find happiness, it seemed right that he should he waiting.
Take care
Dee
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We lived in Chicago for 7 years; it will always feel like home. I can picture this scene, on the L platform near Macy’s. Nicely done, Dee.
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I loved our short stay in Chicago, my husband went on the ‘Gangster Trail’ and I went shopping – the malls are unbelievable. We also took our son to the Museum of Science and Industry (or have been Technology?) in any event we had the most fantastic time there, what an amazing place and not far from the lake if memory serves…
Thanks for reading Dawn.
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The entire city is “lakeside.” It’s one of the things I most love about Chicago: it’s wonderful access to Lake Michigan, which really does feel like being near the ocean. Just a beautiful city, with so much character!
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Loved the story and especially with the happy ending. I hope one day I will be able to write well enough that I can have a happy ending in 100 words or less. Hell, I would just like to have a happy ending! 🙂
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Thank you so much for reading and I’m so pleased you liked it.
100 words is quite a challenge, but you can do it!
Dee
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It is nice to read a happy ending. I seem to have picked the saddest ones to read so far! Thanks, a healthy and prosperous New Year to all.
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Hi Patti
I wasn’t sure when I started writing whether he would be waiting, but Molly deserved a happy ending. It was nice to start 2015 on a happy note.
Good to hear from you, as always.
Take care
Dee
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If I read this correctly, the letter has been hidden by someone else, in an attempt to stop this reunion. I found that strangely disturbing and yet satisfying that the attempt had been thwarted. It’s really good to see you back Dee. I hope you go from strength to strength with your writing.
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Yes Sandra you are quite right. Molly has just left an abusive relationship, brought to a head by the discovery of the letter which was taken from her. I wasn’t sure when I started writing if it would have a happy ending, but then I thought that Molly deserved a new start.
I am pleased to be back and the encouragement from you, and others at FF means so much.
Dee
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Dear Dee,
This was sweet and endearing. I love a happy ending. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug
I wasn’t sure when I started writing it whether if would end happily or not, but then Molly has had such an awful life I reasoned that it was time for some happiness.
It is always good to hear from you Doug, thank you.
Dee
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Seems like she is ready to leave her pain behind. Lovely story Dee 🙂
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Yes Siobhan she has left her old life in a left-luggage locker and is ready for some happiness.
Thanks for reading
Dee
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So much we don’t know, yet we know what’s important. I love the idea of sun as cosmic pain relief.
janet
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Thanks Janet.
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a feel good story. just loved it.
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Thank you, pleased that you liked it 🙂
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Hi Dee,
This is one of those stories that begs the imagination to fill in the blanks. You mention the note, that was hidden — but not well enough, but then retrieved anyway. In my mind, this is a woman leaving her husband for her lover — her husband found the note and crumpled, tore it up, but Molly retrieved it and left to meet her lover. I may be completely wrong, but it’s how the scene played out in my head.
Helena
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You played it perfectly too. Molly was going to kill her husband but then I decided she would leave her old life and go to her lover.
Couldn’t start the New Year with a murder!!
Thanks for reading
Dee
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I was a little unclear about the letter being hidden until I read Sandra’s comment. I’m glad she found the letter and that the man was waiting as promised. Also, I read much of your other post regarding your search for info about the prisoner in your family tree. That was fascinating. Thanks for sharing that bit of personal family history.
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Thank you Russell and for taking time to read the family history saga!
I do intend to do more research this year, but it does make me a littke unpopulat at home … ‘ just how long are you going to be on that computer…’
I find I have developed selective hearing.
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A nice story of hope!
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Thank you 🙂
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Sometimes it’s good to turn back.. such a well written tale.. though it took me a while to understand it fully.
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I think I was a bit too obscure – thank you for perservering Bjorn
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Aww…yay!
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Thank you Dawn 🙂
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Great story, Dee. I love these happy endings. My daughter lives and works in Chicago and has loved it from the beginning. She’s an actor and has found a lot of stage work there. She works for the Second City Theatre Company doing improve and other comedy sketches, and does stand-up comedy in other clubs there. I visited her some years ago and liked the city very much. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Hi Dee, I read that you were following me on Twitter, but it doesn’t show that you are. There’s some problem with Twitter lately. People’s follows aren’t connecting. Would you please try it again and I’ll follow back. Thanks. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Hi Suzanne
I’ve checked and it seems that I am following you. I’ll clear the little box and ‘follow’ again, hopefully I will show up on your account then.
Dee
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Thank you Suzanne.
Wow, your daughter sounds an amazing girl, anyone who can handle stand-up comedy gets my vote every time. The mere thought of it gives me palpitations. I hope she goes from success to success with her career.
Dee 🙂
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