Big ideas in a Few Words.

The Truth We Told Each Other.

1.       “We met at University. He read Shakespeare aloud a lot.

He thought it would help him ‘get girls’.

But he was always stoned. All I had to do was pretend to be interested”.

2.      “I was in a band back then. A teenager, fresh outta school. No direction, or musical talent.

Unsigned. Unhinged. Mistakes were made”.

3.      “Her? We met on the bus. The number 50…Or was it 60? I forget”.

4.      “That dress? Nah. It’s fine. It’s really fine.”

5.      “I know you wore that shirt to David’s funeral, but honestly, I don’t think anyone going tonight will notice.”

6.      “I promise.”

7.      “Forever.”

8.      “Never”.

9.      “I think they’re just jealous”.

10.   “I switched the last two digits of my mobile number.

After tonight, there’s no way they will be able to contact me.”

11.  “Total faceplant. Right in front of me. Outta nowhere!”

12.  “I’m telling you no!”

13. “One hundred percent yes.”

14.  “I’ve never seen it before in my life.”

15.  “They seemed to know a lot about you.”

16. “Only from a past life.”

17.  “Yeah, my parents are cool with it.”

18.  “They didn’t ask too many questions. I think they just kept me there until the hospital rang.

Y’know in case the guy was gonna try and press charges.”

19.  “Come on. Don’t be like that. I promised didn’t I…Besides, what we have is perfect.

One hundred percent perfect.”

20.   “Who was… And why…”

21.  “Well, remember when I said from a past life? Keith has always treated time is a relative concept.”

22.  “So…When Barbara says Babe, it’s a term of endearment. Always.”

23. “She seems kinda needy.”

24. “Lonely more like. Messy divorce.”

25.  “Guess they dialled the reversed digits wrong. Sorry.”

26.  “I don’t care.”

27.    “I really don’t care.”

28.   “I like dinner the way you cook it.”

29.  “My parents rung again. They’re still cool, just checking in.”

30.  “You said no one would notice my shirt!”

31. “Well, I didn’t expect Sam to show up.”

32.  “And I didn’t expect Keith to show up.”

33.  “We’re ok though, right?”

34.  “Of course.”

35. “I really think we have something special.”

36.  “I think you’re special.”

37.  “I love you.”

38. “I love you more.”

39. “It’s not like we kissed or anything”.

40. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

41. “Maybe we need some space.”

42.  “Maybe you need to tell ‘big boobed’ Barbara to fuck off!”

43. “And maybe you need to tell ‘King Kong’ Keith to sort out his facial hair and then he can fuck off”.

44.  “My parents aren’t cool anymore”.

45. “I hear ‘break up’ sex is the best.”

46. “I’m not that desperate.”

47. “I can’t believe this is happening…Again.”

48. “Your parents are outside.”

49. “So, how do you want to do this?”

50. “I don’t.”

51.  “I’m sorry.”

52.  “I know.”

The first draft of this piece was submitted as part of a Flash Fiction course I took through the University of Oxford’s (2024) online learning programme.

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