The eyes are windows to the soul – that’s what Mum always said.
I should have listened.
Your violet irises flashed, beckoned me closer, swept me up in endless nights.
But in time those come-to-bed eyes proved what they really were – a distraction – a decorative facade fronting nothing but empty rooms.
I should have known when you lied about your job.
I should have known when you stayed out all night.
I should have known when you laughed as I cried.
I should have known when other women came calling.
I should have known.
***
This piece was written for the Friday Fictioneers hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields – Addicted to Purple.
Each week a photo prompt is given and the challenge is write a flash fiction piece of no more than one hundred words.
Find other Friday Fictioneer stories here.
Good at mating behaviors but bad at monogamy.
Love it x
Thanks x
Heartbreaking, especially that she blames herself for his behaviour.
Thanks Neil! Yes, I think lots of people end up feeling the fool and blame themselves.
Raw and honest
Thanks Neil 🙂
As a friend told me years ago about relationships.. Ga-Ga goes away.. how can you have a true love when they are not a friend, a companion.. peace to you Jen
I agree! Peace to you too.
Heartbreaking!
Very nicely written.
Thanks Moon 🙂
She’s taking this very badly indeed, needs to stop blaming herself as a start. Easy to say, but no other way out.
Yes, I think it can take a long time to heal in some cases. She should start with loving herself. Thanks for reading 🙂
That is often a lot easier said than done, I fear.
It can be a long and difficult path.
So sad! People blame themselves sometimes for the mistakes made by others.
They do, it is sad. Thanks for reading 🙂
What’s that they say? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Very real. I know people who’ve been down this road.
And what a difficult road it is. Thanks Russell.
Hopefully she will know next time. If she can bring herself to entertain a next time. She sounds very raw right now.
Time is a great healer, or so they say.
Isn’t it sad when people get taken in? Perhaps we’ve all been beguiled by the equivalent of ‘violet eyes’ in our lives. Nicely done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks Susan! 🙂
Powerful and simple… I LOVE ‘a decorative facade fronting nothing but empty rooms’. Painful lessons but worthwhile ones. Loved it 🙂
Mine’s just daft this week!
Thank you! I agree, life lessons are hard but worthwhile x
That’s a well written exploration of some raw emotions of betrayal and loss. It’s astonishing how we can believe people like your violet-eyed seducer, but we do. And I find it even more astonishing that the seducers don’t care about the harm they cause by their irresponsible actions.
Thanks so much Penny. I agree it can be shocking how little they care. Thanks for reading 🙂
Hindsight is definitely a great thing! Great story.
Thanks! 🙂
A good one! A question asked in so many situations these days.
Too many Jelli! Thanks for reading 😊
Loved the way you used the quote. Great take.
Thank you! And thanks for a great prompt 😊
Welcome and thanks for dropping in. 🙂
Dear Jen,
We can’t always see it coming, even if the handwriting is clearly on the wall, Love the metaphors. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. That’s very true.
Beautifully written, my friend xx
Thanks so much Kath xx
Love really can be blind. The repetition of “I should have known” is very effective. Beautiful writing.
Thanks so much!
Beautifully written. She should never blame herself. She was trusting and gave love where she believed it was deserved. I hope she meets another who deserve her.
Me too! Thanks for reading 🙂
Heartbreaking. So beautifully written.
Thank you 🙂
Beautifully written whilst so terribly sad. Awful that she blames herself
Thanks so much Michael.
I know the feeling, should have, could have, would have, if only – but didn’t.
I like what you have done with the header and the dropped G – funny and clever.
Thanks James! I’m afraid the dropped G is a formatting issue, it looks different on different devices. I’ve no idea how to fix it – so not very clever after all 🤣
I note you’ve fixed it. have fun.
It’s still the same for me! It appears there may be computer gremlins at work here lol
I love that analogy of the windows to the soul and the person with ’empty rooms’ – spot on. And the repetition of ‘should have’ works so well. Lovely, sad story
Thanks so much Lynn. What a lovely comment. 🙂
My pleasure 🙂