January Writing Prompt # 4

Hello dear Readers,
When I started writing for this January challenge, I did not really understand just how much work this would be. My short stories are comfortably waiting in my notebook for a revision before a publication on the blog.  But this takes so much time! Of course, I am using (just like you, I am sure) the various helps that exists for writers or students to check texts and essays but to revise a text is really time-consuming.  I can only hope that some of you enjoy reading my stories.

Here is a new one for the January Writing Prompts. And as usual, it is free for you to read and enjoy. Please feel free to reblog, but do not claim my short-story to be yours. Settings, characters and story are all mines.

Enjoy reading.
Love,

Reading Freak

Goals

Stupid. Irrelevant. Foolish.

This was exactly how he felt as he was sitting on a couch in a room full of friends.  The party was bursting and the guests enjoyed the music, drinks and food at his party.  The atmosphere was pleasant and he knew personally each guest present tonight.  He was not sitting alone on the couch and his closest friends sat on the comfortable chairs placed around the vintage coffee table. They had been chatting for a moment now, but he still felt out-of-place.

Everywhere he looked, he saw people smiling or laughing, chatting or kissing. There were many couples, the "H-team" as he called them.  His heart tight, he wondered if he would have felt more in the mood if she had been here with him.  The whole loneliness of his situation came back to him like a slap in the face.

This was his flat, his couch and his radio playing the soft music that hummed in the background. Of course, it could have been him kissing his partner lightly on the lips or holding her gently at the waist. But, unfortunately, this year again he sat alone at his own "After New year Party".

-       Hey, Buddy, still with us? You've been sitting with an open mouth for the last five minutes. Drunk or broken-hearted again?

He turned his head to his friend and frowned because he did not know how to answer or how to explain how he felt tonight.

With a shrug, he smiled to his pal. David was a nice guy and he knew him since University. They had even shared a first flat when they got their first job at the hospital. But David had quickly decided to move out and get a place of his own with his girlfriend.

-       You’ll find another girl soon. Don't worry! You are a fantastic guy and a girl should be proud to be around you, Peter.

Without answering to his friend, Peter smiled but that smile did not reach his eyes. He wondered silently if he was that fantastic, thinking that if so, why was it impossible for him to keep a girlfriend.  In their 10 years of friendship, he had met and loved more girls than any of his pals. David met his girlfriend 5 years ago at university and they formed an lovely duo. The university sweet-hearts now lived together, and were preparing their wedding.

So why was he unable to do the same? He was mature, fun to be around, always in a good mood and he loved taking cares of others.  He was not a pediatrist for nothing since kids were for him treasure that needed good care. And despite his many conquests, he was still a romantic at heart. So, still bemused, he pondered on his situation.  He was 30 years old, lonely and unhappy even though he had the dream job, the flat, the car and the social life he had always wanted.

Someone coughed on their right. A guy was sitting on a chair that had been empty a moment before. The clothes and hair of the man seemed out of fashion or a bit avant-gardist, Peter could not decide which. With a frown, Peter tried to remember the name of the man.  His face was familiar, so was his voice, but something felt odd.

Peter felt David tensing too.

-       It is not always easy to admit our flaws, said the man.

-       What do you mean? My friend is the most perfect gentleman that ever existed, said David.

-       Maybe for you. But what do the girls think? , was the stranger answer.

Peter looked confused at the guy. Well, what did the girls think about me? They all had more or less proclaimed the same thing. The usual catch about how nice he was and how did really like him, but...The "but" was always the part that hurt the more.

The stranger kept on talking.

-       It is not always easy to see the difference between real love and affection or between desire and pure lust. When you close a door, another one opens up, as the saying goes.

They all laughed, a bit disturbed by this man and his fine words but too polite to question him about his presence or name. David was quick with his answer though.

-       And what do you suggest? What should Peter do?

-       Well, he answered unfazed, introspection and meditation are a good start. Because your heart knows the way and we should run in the direction our heart shows.

The two friends nodded at the same time and wondered both silently who had given an invitation to the “guru”. But the stranger seemed oblivious to the reactions of the duo. He kept on.

-       We all have a definite time to spend on earth. We should make the best of it and know what our heart truly desires. We should accept our darkness and weakness, turn them into light and force. And, above all, forgive ourselves for what we did not know.

David smiled and touched his friend by the elbow.

-       So, if I get this right and interrupt me if I don't, my friend should look darker and forgive all the girls who broke his heart through the years.

Unphased, the man looked into Peter's eyes and answered quietly to David.

-       He should maybe stop looking for someone who does not exist and make first peace with himself.  He should admit that he is the best version of his self.

Peter tightened his jaws and wondered who this guy was.  How did he know so much about Peter's life?

-       Do we know each other, mate? Have we met before?

The man could only shake his head and smiled.

-       Not really or rather not yet.

Peter was baffled by this attitude and his patience was running thinner and thinner. If this was a joke, it was a rather sad one. He wondered who put this one up.

-       Ok, and would you mind explaining how we could start this introspection of yours? Are you even sure this could be of any help? , was the best Peter could do. 

Peter was feeling more nervous as the conversation went on. However, he was curious and a bit drunk.

-           It could only help, really. How can you love someone else if you do not know and love yourself first?  Everything you did or said in the past is the result of your present mind and soul. Your goal, everyone’s goal should be about forgiveness.

And right there, it came back in a flash. The whole scene came back to him. The smell of the car and the soft fabric of her clothes, even her voice as she broke his heart. How hard her words, her reproaches had been and how miserably lonely he had felt at the exact moment she said those words. "You are not enough". No. Even today he was not enough. Her words left a cruel and nasty scar on his heart and soul.

He heard David's voice asking him if he was ok as he motioned someone to get him a drink for Peter. Exhaling, he slowly opened his eyes and let his gaze wander through the room.  He watched his friends as an outlooker and felt detached from the whole scene. He then turned his attention to the stranger on his right.  The man sat and simply smiled and nodded to Peter. With bewilderment, Peter saw the man slowly lose his consistency and as he watched the man declared one last thing.

-       See into yourself and forgive. It is time to be your true friend. These should be your goals and they should give me a chance to be.

With this, the man completely disappeared. Peter was still blinking when a helpful hand gave him a drink that he swallowed up in a go.