Coming home. . .

Running away

21 March 2023

This story is a sequel

Last line fromLeaving Too Soon
Jackson felt something inside his left coat pocket & pulled out a matchbook. "Ernie's? I haven't been there in how long?" he thought. Inside the flap was a note: "We are on our 1st date. You went to the bathroom, so I am writing this to remember I am already in love with you. -D"
Benjamin C @ 3/17 2:20pm
  • BA
    I miss them. . .Lulu and Jackson have been gone for six whole months. There have been so many storms. I hate storms. Usually, Jackson and Lulu will comfort me, but I'm alone. Maybe I deserve this. Jackson's voice rang in my ear. "How have you been, D?" He asked.
    Byline Author3/18/23 11:52pm
    Inactive HEART icon1
    @rajchaklashiya
  • RC
    I turned, mouth wide open. I could not believe my eyes. Jackson was back. "Jackson!" I cried as I hugged him. "I missed you and Lulu so much! There have been so many storms, including this one, I've felt so alone this whole time." Jackson smiled. "Don't worry, D. I'm back now."
    Raj C avatarRaj C3/19/23 5:06am
    Inactive QUILL icon1
    @williamiiifarquhar
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • KF
    We went in and enjoyed supper together. The pitter-patter of raindrops against the windows was relaxing and encapsulating. Jackson proceeded to tell us about his time over seas. “Commander McNorris was the only one that had ammo at that point. He handed the gun to me, so I shot.”
    Keith F avatarKeith F3/19/23 12:09pm
    Inactive SCREAM icon1
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • AP
    “I’ll sure miss Commander McNorris,” Jackson finished. I stared at him, wondering if he’d accidentally killed Commander McNorris or if he just phrased things weirdly. Or both…. “Want an omelette?” I asked, hoping to change the conversation. “No,” said Jackson, uncharacteristic.
    A P avatarA P3/19/23 4:28pm
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • BC
    That's when the long winter started. Jackson seemed to have lost his spark. He just sat in his chair watching reruns of 1970s game shows on cable TV. He ate little, grew thinner. I missed the smart aleck, the problem solver, the playfulness. "I just need time," he always told me.
    Benjamin C avatarBenjamin C3/20/23 6:08am
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • KT
    Unfortunately time waits for no man, or woman. I wish we would said the things that needed to be said or done the things we needed, because now we can't do any of them and I miss them, I miss you, but most of all I miss "US"
    K T avatarK T3/20/23 11:20am
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • BA
    Maybe it's okay. . .To be left alone and feel hopeless. Delilah hasn't left the house in six months, scared of the world. She would sing to herself, begging for Jackson to hug her again. Kiss her. Love her.
    Byline Author3/20/23 12:36pm
    Inactive SCREAM icon1
    @rajchaklashiya
  • RC
    Delilah, as alone and hopeless as she has been, was finally forced to leave her house for the first time in six months as she ran out of food from her stockpile. She slumped out the house to go to the store to buy food when she slipped on her front porch. It was a pile of mail.
    Raj C avatarRaj C3/20/23 2:30pm
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • KF
    She took the letters inside and began to open them up. One by one she read them. Her eyes glided back and forth and filled with tears. They were letters from Jackson! “…and I swear to you I will return! Love, Jackson.” He wasn’t lying after all! She had to get him back. She ran
    Keith F avatarKeith F3/20/23 6:12pm
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • AP
    to her car and drove as fast as she could to the airport. Not seeing him in the lobby, she tried to get past security. Without a valid boarding pass she was unable to pass. She mumbled to the officers about the love she’d lost. “Delilah!” she heard from behind.
    A P avatarA P3/20/23 8:42pm
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • BC
    The crowd of travelers parted to reveal Jackson standing there, hair disheveled, coat hanging in his hand, a crooked smile inching over those full lips she knew. She bolted to him, leapt into his arms, then stopped herself—"This is real, right?" she asked. He replied with a kiss.
    Benjamin C avatarBenjamin C3/21/23 9:11am
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1
  • KT
    Neither one of them recognized their feelings, it was new but it felt good. The six months, missing each other, being alone was no more, he looked into her eyes and said "Lets go to Ernie's, I'm hungry. Her eyes lit up as they started their lives... together again
    K T avatarK T3/21/23 9:59am
    Inactive HEART icon1
    @benjaminchandler
    Inactive HEART_ARROW icon1

The End

Fun Facts
This story was a
Romance
Genres
The type of story you're writing—set by the creator
—
Titled by Byline Author
Longest word @ap "uncharacteristic"
@williamiiifarquhar shot the moon 280 characters
@benjaminchandler shot the moon 280 characters
@benjaminchandler shot the moon 280 characters
Speed demon @kt wrote in under 60 minutes
Fastest line @kt an hour
Slowest line @benjaminchandler 14 hours
—

Prompt visible to authors while writing:

Note from creator Byline Author
Delilah has been alone for months. Of course, the two of them call sometimes but it's not the same. Ever since he left, she's been less like herself at work and at home. Jackson said he'd be home soon, but she feels lost without him. Will he come back? Soon? Later? Never?
—
Breadcrumbs
six whole months
Jackson was back
Commander McNorris
accidentally killed
missed
I miss "US
left alone
a pile of mail
get him back
to the airport
Breadcrumbs
Clues left by authors from previous lines
—
This story's 591 words long and took 3 days to complete!
—
Invite-only Story
© 2024 Byline