Jameca stood at the bank of the pond shivering in the chilly, predawn air. Her fiancé of six years wrapped his arms around her waist.
“We look like an Oreo,” John said, staring down at their reflection in the water.
“Even the trees are segregated,” Jameca said.
“That’s because one side is regular and the other is evergreens.”
“Just like us.” Jameca broke their embrace. “You’re regular, and I’m black, and no matter what I do, I’ll never be able to shake my color, like the evergreens can never shake their leaves and look like the regular trees.”
“Babe, they’re just trees.”
“And we’re just people! Why do you think your mother hates me, John? Because I’m the same complexion as the man who knocked her up and abandoned her when she was sixteen? Or, maybe it’s because, although you look just like her, she knows her future grandchild won’t.”
John stared back at her.
“I’m glad you finally decided to stop lying to me,” Jameca said, and she jumped into the freezing, cold water.
word count: 175
—Nortina
Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is a weekly challenge where you write a story in 100-150 words (give or take 25 words) using the provided photo prompt as inspiration.
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Lovely Curses 
Evergreens are beautiful, but most people only focused on how they’re different from the other trees. This conversation has clearly been waiting to happen. Things finally blew up in this complex piece. My interpretation is that she’s trying to rid the baby of the burdensome life she thinks it will live. She’s given up and given in. 😦 Can John save his family in time…? Hmmmmm
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It can definitely be expanded into a longer piece. There’s so many directions it can go!
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Your story flows so smoothly, Nortina. I wish Jameca had given him a chance to reply before jumping 😦 Hopefully, the water’s not too deep and John can save her…I really like the name Jameca, it’s unusual.
Ellespeth
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Thanks. I just let this story come to me, didn’t try to control the outcome or anything, so I’m glad it flows so smoothly. I think John is torn, but there’s a reason he’s been with Jameca for 6 years. I think he’ll make the right decision 🙂
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Loved your descriptions of the chilly pre-dawn air and the part about her never shaking her colour like the evergreens never shaking their leaves. Excellent!
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Thanks!
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Quite a powerful little story told in so few words- good job 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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A powerful story. I’m very curious as to her reasons for jumping into the pond…
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Well, in this case, the ending wrote itself, so the reason for why she jumped is up for discussion. 😉
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Very thought provoking story. Maybe she jumped in to cool herself off after that very pointed conversation. I could feel her frustration. Great story.
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I don’t think she died I think she just jumped into get away.
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That’s a great interpretation. Thanks for reading!
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Very powerful and very sad. She jumped into the pond to kill herself and their baby when she realized John felt the same as his mother. 😥 😦
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I would say this is a reinvention of the “tragic mulatto” plot line. Even though John is the mulatto in this case, the tragedy falls on Jameca. Thanks!
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It was an excellent story!
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Powerful!
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Very powerful. Did she die in the cold water or did they remain together?
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Actually I don’t know. The story kind of wrote itself this time. Maybe John jumped in after her . . . or maybe, jumping into the pond is a metaphor for her tears. I don’t know. This one is up for interpretation.
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