JJ didn’t make friends easily. She’d been a shy toddler, second grader, teenager. In college, there were two friends. Sheila moved away to be ‘an artist.’ She barely made any money but sent pictures of crowds of people, saying, wish you were here.
Mary and her baby had mom-friends now.
JJ worked. She ate lunch alone, like in middle school. This is how you disappear, she thought. Not surprisingly. Not tragically. Just because no one notices you leave.
“Hey!” Someone nudged her—the new hire. “Do you mind? I don’t know anyone yet.”
Uncertainly, JJ looked down at her food.
© Copyright 2016 Alexa Pukall. All rights reserved.
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Alexa Pukall studied Creative Writing at Chapman University. She lives and writes in Frankfurt, Germany.
Aww, JJ! Your own worst enemy. Sad.
Seems like maybe JJ wanted to disappear. Foiled! Damn it, a new friend.
Not sure of the word “uncertainly.” Sounds like JJ epitomizes the saying: “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.”
Great insight in 100 words.
Very accurate. And very well done. Thanks!
Sad. Very succinctly depicts that level of loneliness where the person’s friend-making skills are so rusty, the gears are stuck.
We’ve all known (or been) someone like this. Well done.