Flash Fiction Friday – The Puzzle

The Puzzle

The day is warm and yet she dressed for winter.  For three consecutive days I’ve watched her push an empty, bulky stroller up the hill.  Her limp gets more pronounced just before the crest.

An empty stroller.  A child lost, perhaps?  She walks with purpose, not the anxious steps of a frantic mother.

My curiosity overwhelms me and I call out, “May I help you?”

She turns and her smile warms me from the inside out.  This is a woman who is happy with herself and I am jealous.

“No, thank you.”  She tilts her head and courteously nods, dismissing me.

My lips twitch in an attempt to smile, a foreign expression on my face.  She is a puzzle I wish to solve.

Leave a Comment