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Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/121360
Have your story "No longer her best friend, a cheerful buddy, the fun person. Something, whatever it was, had come in and gently but steadily prized them apart." There, she'd said it. After all, he was no longer the man he was. No longer her best friend, a cheerful buddy, the fun person. Something, whatever it was, had come in and gently but steadily prized them apart. It was a slow something, a something that took a long time to grow, like a gap-filler, bubbling, expanding and then setting hard like concrete - not the same speed as your usual gap-filler though, but a slower expansion that found a tiny gap and had pushed the gap wide like a chasm over time. And yes, taking longer than expected to reach its present size. For years now she had noticed the distance increasing between them, growing wider and becoming too wide to negotiate; in her clearer moments she had thought her relationship with Walter would've been well over by now. She'd known him a long time, yet no longer knew him which didn't make sense but was true. Once she would've known, but now she doesn't know what his reaction will be. He sits for ages, gazing into the distance, blinking slowly whilst she watches and waits for a response; as if she's looking down the wrong end of binoculars, she watches him carefully arrange his crumpled, hurt-victim look. This trick won't work any longer, she decides. "I've thought long and hard about us, you know." "Have you?" "Yes. Maybe you haven't noticed." "No." "Perhaps we're no longer meant to be companions." He turns, he looks directly, sadly, into her eyes. "We no longer, click, do we?" "We don't. No… I mean, yes. We no longer click. We don't." It wasn't all bad, she told herself. It had gone on for 50% longer than she had expected, after all. There naturally comes a time when the flame goes out and the wick smokes for a while, then you just have to light another to hide whatever it is you want to disguise or illuminate what you're searching for, possibly like at the Cat Motel. Marjory walks back to the café and the girl's closing the door. "Oh excuse me. Sorry. Can I grab a Coffee News? That's all I want." "Sure" says set-face. "There's nothing in it though. Usually take it home to line the bird cage. Lasts longer." "Longer?" "Longer. You know." "Oh yes" says Marjory "I really think I might. Actually, on second thoughts, I think I'll leave it. By the way, I must say - I was in here earlier - it's definitely time you washed your floor, you mustn't leave it any longer, it's not good enough. And whilst we're on the subject, your service is slow and your attitude is inhospitable and unattractive." The girl doesn't respond, she simply shuts the door, locks it and turns back into the café. Marjory stands on the pavement facing the café door for a few moments, she focuses on a drawing in some good deep breaths, each breath she releases out with a sigh, she remains there a little longer than is absolutely necessary and then walks slowly to the bus stop. The traffic's building up, she has to wait for the bus but feels a lightness, she is not anxious, there's no hurry, all is well. She has said things she needed to say. When she gets home she'll light one of her scented candles and run a lovely deep bath and wallow, luxuriate in it for as long as she likes. about the author Elizabeth Coleman writes poetry and short stories and can be seen walking in Waikanae to the rhythm of words. published! Here's how to enter our Short Story Competition: Entries need to have a maximum of 1200 words and will be selected based on their interest and professional standard. Entries are to be emailed to: hermag@strettonpublishing.co.nz Subject line: Short Story Competition Terms and Conditions: Entries to have a maximum of 1200 words, submitted in double spacing, including a short biography of the writer. Entries close the 20th of each month. Each entry must be the author's original work and must not have been published before. The winner each month will be notified prior to publication, which will be at the editor's discretion. Her Magazine retains first publication rights for all winning entries for a period of six months. Entries from the previous month cannot be resubmitted for following months' competitions – i.e. entries can be submitted only once. Each entry must be original and must be submitted by the author. The judges' decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submission of each entry constitutes acceptance by the submitter of the competition's terms and conditions of entry. www.hermagazine.co.nz