Olivia had a free afternoon. That’s how she’d ended up at Murphy’s, alone in a corner booth next to the window, sipping merlot, halfway through Girl on the Train.
“Do you mind if I join you?” She looked up at the man, annoyed – she hated being bothered while reading.
“I’m flattered, but I really just want to be alone.”
He traced his finger along her upper arm and she cringed away. “Come on, let me buy you a drink.”
“No, thank you.”
“A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be sitting here all alone.” He sat in the booth across from her.
Olivia sighed. She knew what would get rid of the guy. “My boyfriend’s on the way.”
He raised his hand in surrender and left to bother someone else. He didn’t respect her but he respected a man that didn’t exist.
Olivia closed her book, put some bills on the table and left the bar, in search of another safe haven.
For Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers
This story was inspired by Men, a post on In The Bliss of Broken Dreams. Check it out, it’s quite powerful.
Jennifer Terry 
Oh my gosh, that is so realistic! It happens all the time! Great story.
Yes, unfortunately it does. Thanks for reading!
“He didn’t respect her but he respected a man that didn’t exist.” Wow, such a powerful line. Well done!
Thanks!
I agree – a powerful line.
Thank you. It’s so frustrating to me.
I agree. Poignant.
Thanks, Annie
You’re welcome!
That was my favorite line of the story as well. Powerful and poignant and unfortunately realistic.
Thanks. Yes, this is something many of us have lived through.
Yes, can say I’ve experienced this. Sometimes it is nice to b a woman alone reading her book or writing. So unfortunate when our havens our invaded.
Yes, agreed. Sometimes we just want to sit and read, and that’s okay.
Yep forsure.
I thought you conveyed this problem so very well….lovely piece of writing….
Thank you!
Nice. Done that too. Your stories are very realistic. I like that! 😉
Thank you very much!
A little snippet of reality. Great job.
Thanks!
This this this this!!
I’d read a post like this on tumblr. About how disrespectful and nagging men are even when you say no. Where’s the respect? They keep insisting until women give in.
Or they will respect that non existent man who is meant to be your boyfriend.
It makes me so angry.
Same here! Makes me crazy.
I don’t understand why these type of men do not realize Why this type of approach is such a turn off! She was right in moving to a safer haven.
I know, it can actually be quite scary. Thanks for reading!
Reblogged this on In The Bliss Of Broken Dreams and commented:
One of my most favorite bloggers on WordPress wrote this very powerful flash fiction story in response to my post on men.
I recommend you give it a read ’cause it reflects a reality that I agree exists and in fact, needs to be addressed.
Thanks lady
🙂
So true! I had a similar experience. When I joined college, there was this guy who had helped me a lot. We started talking to each other and he seemed really nice. After a few days he said he never had a ‘proper girlfriend’ ( I still dunno what he meant by that! ), and he want me to be his girlfriend. I rejected the ‘offer’ saying I’m not interested, but he became so annoying asking ‘why can’t you?’ ‘Am I not good enough?’ etc etc I tried to keep being nice thinking he’d stop it eventually,cuz I din want to begin my college life with fights, but he started being touchy around me. Then I said next time he try that, I’ll teach him a lesson, to which he replied he’ll tell people that I’m his gf and will make stories about us, then I won’t be able to back off. I din want to take chances, so I said I can’t be his gf cuz I’m committed already. He din believe me. So I called him from my friend’s chinaphone which had this application to change into male voice and told him not to bother ‘my’ girlfriend. Then my friend said : “He din back off when you threatened him in your original voice but did when you said this calmly in a male voice”!
I’m sorry that happened to you. What a jerk! Yes, we have the right to turn a guy down for whatever reason we like. Sometimes I wonder if some guys just are spoiled and can’t take rejection.
Yeah! And the funniest part is, when others got to know about my rejection ( Again, I dunno who informed the college rumour mill) many people asked me why I did that cuz “he’s such a nice guy”!
That makes me crazy! Just because he’s a nice guy doesn’t mean you have to date him.
I’m here like- this is too realistic! I hate when that happens, it’s as if, our saying that we’re not interested is no longer enough. Well done 👏
Thank you!
Thought-provoking and poignant! Well done, Jenn! Although I would expect her to be reading The Wildflower Project, rather than Girl on the Train. 😉
Ha! Yes I missed a great marketing opportunity! Thanks for reading!
This feels so today. It’s amazing how men can think that a lady at a pub is free for all. I’ve read the girl on the train and it was quite interesting.
Thanks. Yes, I love that book!