Furious Fiction July

For the Australian Writers Centre monthly contest. Probably not a winner!


Sorry

“You know, I really feel like I should apologize to him,” Claire smoothed her sleek hair back and sighed.
“Well, these things always bring up a lot of feelings, I don’t think that’s unusual,” Maureen answered, placing a hand on her friend’s shoulder.
Both women looked through the small clusters of people at the man in question.
Claire turned in her seat toward her friend. “Do you think I should?”
Maureen tipped her head. “I don’t know if it’s the right time.”
“Mo, they say it’s never too late to apologize.”
“Claire, it’s been years. His wife and kid are here.” She looked around at the slowly growing crowd. “And honestly? Sometimes it is too late.”
Claire frowned. “I just want him to know that I realize everything I put him through, and I’m sorry if he was upset about it.”
“He moved on. Wife, kid?”
“Actually, I’m not sure if he ever even knew I was cheating on him back then.”
“Then why on earth bring it up now, of all times?”
“I think it would just make me feel better about it, you know?”
“Does his wife know who you are?”
“You know, it’s funny you ask? I think maybe she’s been, like, Facebook stalking me. She’s been coming up under ‘people you may know.’ ”
“Claire…” Maureen frowned. “Why would Jill be stalking you after all this time?”
“Maybe the comments I leave on his pictures?”
Maureen cocked an eyebrow.
“Well, just because we broke up a few years ago doesn’t mean we’re like, dead to each other!”
Maureen gulped.
Claire clicked her red fingernails against each other and leaned into Maureen with a grin. “And even though we may have technically stopped seeing each other—“
Maureen cut her off. “Technically? You had a spectacular break-up! I regretted introducing you guys.”
“— that doesn’t mean we totally stopped… seeing each other.”
“Claire!” She hissed in a whisper. “He’s been married for four years!”
“Only because Jill got pregnant.” Claire shrugged and sighed. “I knew you couldn’t be cool about this.” The woman on the other side of Maureen shot them both a dirty look as Maureen pulled back, bumping her.
“How can you say that? You know they were smitten. He looked ten years younger when he was around her, he was like a puppy.”
Claire scowled. “Then how come he’d always answer if I texted him enough?”
Maureen crossed her arms and stiffened. “Unbelievable. You actually drove a man to—”
“Distraction,” Claire said, batting her eyes. “Does my hair look okay?”
Maureen stared straight ahead, shredding the damp tissue in her fists.
Claire stood up, straightening her dress. She walked to the front of the room, leaned over the casket, and whispered into the waxen man’s ear.