It Felt Wrong (story by Jill inspired by Jennifer's photo)

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I didn't give this one too too much thought. I just sort of started writing and figured out where I was going with this character as I got into it.


It Felt Wrong

    I tapped his foot. “Come on,” I said. “It’s time,” I added, tapping it again. 

    He groaned but stayed still.

    “Hey, you’re the one who wanted to do this.” I walked over to my suitcase and opened it. “Not me.” I dug through my clothes and grabbed a t-shirt. “Just remember that.”

    He groaned again.

    I pulled the black t-shirt over my head and silently debated about whether it was worth it or not to change my underwear. 

    How had this become my life? 

    How had we run out of other options?

    I looked around the floor and grabbed some black leggings. “Yoo hoo!” I sat on the foot of the bed beside his feet. “You’ve got 10 seconds, and then I give up.”

    He groaned. 

    “I’m serious, Dale, in 10 seconds I’m going to walk away from this ridiculous plan. I mean,” I added, “this is a ridiculous plan! I don’t know how I always let you talk me into these things.” I put my right foot into my leggings and tugged them up to my knee. “Like, you’re aware that we’ll probably end up in jail for this one.”

    He groaned again.

    “You’re on, like, five seconds,” I said, putting my left leg into the leggings and standing to pull them all the way up.

    He groaned.

    “Dale! Four… three… two… one,” I said and waited about three additional seconds.

    “Okay, I’m out,” I blew out the breath that I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “I’m going for a run then.”

    He groaned, and I silently thanked every god I had ever believed in that we weren’t actually going to kidnap the Monroe girl. I mean, sure we’d have to slip out—probably before dawn—and relocate … again. 

    But, kidnapping just sorta felt wrong, you know?

    I headed out the door.

—Jill Morse (written June 18, 2021)

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