Haunting Mistake by Rob Garbin
 (1 rating)
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SUMMARY: The final rejection for Flashspec. He sat brooding on the sofa while some inane show droned on the television. Erin was banging cabinet doors and mumbling angrily through sniffles in the kitchen. They had known each other for years and been there for each other through many failed relationships like the one that brought him here now. He knew this one hit a nerve with Erin and it hurt because he secretly loved her. Why he had never done anything about it before, he could not comprehend? The longing to caress her silken skin and rich brown hair set fire in his veins and caused his hands to tremble whenever she was near, but fear kept him at bay.
Fear that she could never feel for him the way he felt for her. She was so beautiful that dozens of men vied for her attention while women talked behind her back. What could she see in him? Every time he got the nerve up to say he wanted more, she made him feel like he was something she found under a particularly slimy rock. He still hung around; however, just praying for any chance to shine in her eyes. Now was another one of those chances. Another relationship had soured for her and that was why she was on a rampage. She stomped from room to room with unfocused anger spilling from her pores while he sat quietly on the couch waiting for her to cool down.
Finally, Erin came back into the living room with an ice-cold glass of cola and some crackers. She sat down on the opposite side of the couch without even looking at him. He could see that her eyes were red and puffy from crying and her hair was disheveled, which he found extremely attractive on her. He sensed a vulnerability in her that was normally not there. Erin reached over to put her drink and snack down then picked up the journal she kept. She stared at the page she had written earlier and began to cry again. He moved over closer to be ready to enfold her into his arms, but she tossed the journal down and turned the lights off.
She got up again and went into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. He was left watching the stupid show that squawked on and on while the glow from the television cast flickering shadows on the wall. Frustration welled up inside him. He decided to move over to where he could see the journal in the gloomy light. The page with her last entry still lay open. He read:
Why didn't he reach out to me? I must have given him a thousand hints. God I loved him so much and he just left me here all alone.
He sat back stunned. He couldn't remember her hanging out with any particular guy who could have meant so much. He was angry with her and deeply hurt because once again he felt like an idiot for thinking anything could happen between them. The shifting light patterns drew his attention to the cover story of the local newspaper laying askew on the Kleenex covered coffee table. Bold print began the story of an accident on the interstate involving a drunk driver and a young man on his way home. He read on until he saw the name Josh Harden. A chill ran down his spine. God, I need a drink badly, he thought, and reached out for the bottle of rum Erin had left on the coffee table. His hand passed right through it.
Josh shook. He got up and walked to the bedroom confused at first when his hand went through the doorknob then he shrugged and walked through the door. Erin lay on the bed in a fetal position with her hands wrapped around an old picture of her and him at an amusement park when they were teenagers. Josh broke down and cried uncontrollably. She had loved him and he'd blown it!
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