Monday Flash Fics: Reminiscence

Reminiscence

Shane leant against the window as his mind took him on an all too familiar journey.

 How had he ended up here? Had it really only been a few months since he’d lived the life of riley in Florida? If he closed his eyes he’d see the beach, feel the sunshine and hear those accents again. He’d felt at home there, as if he belonged. He’d taken a risk, had been a thorough bastard in the process, but he’d really believed it was for the best. He’d been so sure going away would kick start a new life; give him the opportunity to start from scratch. He’d expected to stay in America for years, if not forever.

He opened his eyes and gazed upon the grey world outside the window. The contrast couldn’t be starker. He’d gambled and he’d lost. He’d come to believe in karma too, and had no doubt that it was indeed a bitch.

Except that he was being selfish again. He wasn’t paying the price, not really. No matter how unlucky and inconvenienced he felt, at least he’d live, which was more than he could say for….

“Uncle Shane,” Danny’s high pitched voice prevented him from delving even further into the darkness of his thoughts. “I’m ready, Uncle Shane. Are we going to see mammy now?”

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against his hand for a moment, before forcing his mouth to stretch into the semblance of a smile, and turning to face the beautiful five year old boy. Danny hopping from foot to foot, clearly excited to go and see his mother, momentarily lifted Shane’s mood. To be able to see the world through the eyes of a child. Shane clung to the thought and walked towards his nephew, pulling on a long-sleeved T-shirt on his way.

“Let’s go, munchkin.” He took the boy’s hand when Danny reached out for him. “Can’t keep your ma waiting.”

****

324 words.

While the above can be read as a flash, I think it may well end up as the start of or inspiration for, a scene or chapter in Redemption, the third book in the trilogy I’m working on at the moment. We’ll see.

As always more stories can be found in the Monday Flash Fics group on Facebook.