Credit: pixabay.com
Melissa resented her troubled life. Tom would be late for dinner, again, Martin’s teacher had called to set up a meeting, again, the bills kept coming and the sink had clogged up for the third time this week.
She glanced bitterly out of her dilapidated screen door to the new house opposite hers. She had seen it immaculately constructed for the past seven months. The quaint windows, bright azure door, planters of exotically coloured flowers, crimson, radiant yellow and gleaming green.
From time to time the new neighbours would visit. The handsome husband, the skinny wife with the perfect hair and the excited seven or eight year old, clutching his digital camera.
They had moved in last week. A trail of U-Haul trucks followed, unloading designer furniture, at least three colossal LEDs and if nosy old Martha next door was to be believed, crates of Picassos and Monets.
As envy burgeoned in Melissa’s heart, the anorexic wife from across the street put fresh concealer on her bruised eye and got ready to meet the neighbours.
Written for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
The perfect neighbors have something to hide! Great story! Brings attention to this problem that many women silently endure!
Yes! Ever so often we compare our lives with others, often with a bit of jealously, but no one has a perfect life.
That is so very true.
oh I love it SW….its true isn’t that we never know what goes on behind people’s front doors…..
That’s indeed so true… at times the truth is heartbreaking to discover…
Sad reality.
Things aren’t always what they seem…
So true! Thank you for reading! 😊
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Lovely twist in the tale. It is true that things are not always what they seem. Well done.
True! Which is why since childhood we’re taught the oft repeated ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ yet we continue to do so. Thank you so much for reading! Glad you liked it! 😊
I did not expect that twist at the end, but what a glimpse into the harsh reality of life. So many layers to this story: the envy of others, hiding the truth, the message that what we see is not always what is. Fantastic job!
Thank you so much! Yes, unfortunately life can deal an extremely harsh hand to some, though to the other it may all seem smooth sailing. Thank you so much for reading! Glad you liked it! 🙂
Nice twist, really subtle, made it all the better 🙂
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it! 😊
Nicely written. A good tale to remember to not take what we have for granted nor judge the superficial things we see.
Yes, that’s exactly right! It’s so easy to complain and compare, not realizing that the reality all around isn’t as perfect as we think it is. Thank you so much for reading! 🙂
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wonderful how you brought so much of the photo into this piece. the facade and the reality.
ellespeth
Thank you so much for reading! 😊
I think both of them may be feeling a bit in awe of each other…one has a troubled marriage and a eating disorder that is probably consuming her life and ability to enjoy every day activities and her home, and the other one that is dealing with a hectic life where she feels she is not getting to fulfill her desires or a husband that is by her side when she needs him. It is so difficult to understand one’s circumstances from afar. Your story has such complex situations , in very few words and is well written.
Thank you so much for your well thought out comment. That’s so true, everyone has to deal with their complex lives and it’s not easy for one to comprehend from afar. Thank you so much for reading! 😊
Sometimes, things are never what they seem. The perfect neighbours are not so perfect after all. Good read
Exactly true! Thank you! (Just retrieved your comment from my Spam folder! Aargh! WordPress! )
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