Count the Windows (an Inspiration Monday post)

It has been a long time, but I finally feel inspired to write about something that doesn’t have anything to do with Egypt, Canaan or character names beginning with “J” or “P”.  Thank you to Inspiration Monday (http://bekindrewrite.net/2012/04/09/inspiration-monday-fear-vaccine/ from 9 April, yes I’m late but I liked the title) for the inspiration for my latest Flash Fiction piece.

Count the Windows

She stood on the pavement looking up at the offices on the other side of the street.  She counted the stories: one, two, three, four….ten.  Then to count the windows across.  There, number four, his office.  She stared at the glass willing him to step up to the window.  She knew he would.  He always did.  It was only a matter of time until she would catch another glimpse.  The sun reflected harshly off the glass but it did not worry her, she had come prepared with the glasses she had bought for just this purpose. 

A shadow fell across the window and she strained to make out his familiar shape.  Her breath came in fits and starts; her heart racing with expectation.  She stepped back hitting her head on the building behind her.  Something was wrong.  It wasn’t his muscular form that she could see clad in his favourite designer suit.  It was a woman, dressed to impressed in killer heels and a short black suit skirt, and a mass of auburn hair cascading over her shoulders.  She let her waiting breath out as she waited for the woman to leave.  She almost looked away but something drew her gaze.  Another shadow was forming alongside the window.  He was there!  She should have trusted her instincts – he had never let her down.

She imagined reaching out to touch him.  Her eyes closed in bliss as she pictured the scene that was now so familiar.  She only allowed herself a brief moment. desperate not to miss a single second of the precious little time he gave her from his strange glittering tower.  As her eyes refocused she found herself staring in horror.  She had to count the windows again to be sure she wasn’t wrong, even though she already knew she wasn’t.  Her heart twisted and wrenched as she fought against everything her senses were already telling her.  Then she screamed.