SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

800 Word Story ~ A New Life

Welcome to another 800 Word Story, this time a solo effort.

That means you get two stories from the same prompt!

Prompt: There I was, just standing there, when what I wanted to do was forbidden.

The word “forbidden” lends itself to taboo subjects, but given how everything is out in the open nowadays, I wonder if taboos still exist.

Of course they do.

I like to write about human frailties, but to do so in a subtle manner is difficult in 800 words. I think I managed it here after reworking the story throughout the week. Hopefully, you agree.

“A New Life” is about the intersection of endings and beginnings.

To read Bill’s story called “First Love” using the same prompt, please follow the link here.

+++

A new Life

I was bored with the tedium of the job, even more so with the simplemindedness of my fellow employees. They called us baristas.

Right.

A glorified coffee pourer was what I was. Worse yet, Grace, my boss kept telling me what a great job I was doing. Not only did she make me feel worse, she made up my mind for me.

The next day I quit.

I didn’t bother to do it in person, just sent a text and ignored all the follow-up questions. Grace was persistent; she even called me. Her number showed up on my phone, but I didn’t pick up. What was the point?

At 32, I was much too old to be a barista. It was leading nowhere, and I didn’t want it to lead anywhere. I didn’t want the job, period.

After two years of lockdowns, restrictions, and now as part of the Great Resignation, I desperately needed to find a new life.

I wasn’t even stressed about being unemployed, so when Jacques messaged me to visit him in Bali, I thought about what was keeping me in Toronto—Mom, my dingy basement apartment, my dying cactus … and then my mind went blank.

At one time, I had a social life and a gym membership.

The membership expired. I lost touch with friends, and as for Mom … she’d always been more than capable of looking after herself after Dad died.

That evening, I maxed out my overdraft, paid down my Visa, and booked a plane ticket.

+++

“Is that it?” Jacques eyed the backpack at my feet when he met me at the airport.

“That’s it.”

He gave me a warm hug. “If I’d known, I would’ve picked you up with my motorbike.”

I followed him to his car and threw my bag in the back. “Yeah, given the horror stories of lost luggage, I thought this was easier.”

“True, you can buy new stuff here.”

Unfamiliar smells hit me as we drove on the left side of a two-lane road. Scooters weaved around us; tourists packed the sidewalks. An oncoming vehicle veered into our lane. I reached for the roof handle with both hands, and Jacques swerved to avoid the van.

“Shit! He nearly hit us!” I said.

Jacques snorted. “Not even close.”

As my heart rate returned to normal, I glanced at the confident man beside me. He’d changed. He looked tanned, relaxed, at ease with himself.

Did he have expectations of me when he invited me here?

Before I could ask him, he turned on to a dirt road and pulled into a carpark. “Welcome to my little piece of paradise,” he said.

+++

A tall, wooden fence blocked the view of the villa from the road. When Jacques unlocked the gate, an in-ground pool, tropical plants, and a huge outdoor kitchen spilled into view. My jaw dropped.

Jacques walked ahead of me, pulling off his T-shirt over his head as he spoke. He balled up the top and threw it in a corner. “It’s so damn hot today,” he said, then turned around and faced me. “Come, I’ll show you your room.”

I couldn’t help but notice he’d beefed up quite nicely since I last saw him. “Beautiful place you have here. I would’ve never guessed it from the outside.”

“Yeah, most homes here are like that. The modest exteriors hide some amazing properties.”

I followed him through the open-concept main floor and upstairs, greedily taking in all the wall art, wood furniture, and everything else that was alien to my sheltered life. At the top of the steps was a loft-style bedroom with a canopied bed dressed in white linens.

Jacques grabbed a remote from the night table and clicked it toward the air conditioning unit. “It’s hot up here, but this cools it down quickly.”

There I was, just standing there, when what I wanted to do was forbidden.

“It’s good to see you,” Jacques said. He turned to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s good to see you too.” His touch felt electric on my skin. “I missed you after you and Mom split. You were always there for me.”

Jacques nodded. “I’m still here for you, Adam.”

Emotion caught in my throat. “Can I ask you something?“

“Of course, anything.”

“Did you always know you were gay?”

Now it was Jacques’ turn to pause. “No, I would’ve never married your mother if I’d known. What happened was completely unfair to her, and I regret it to this day.”

“I think she’s over it,” I said. The cool air kicked in but I was on fire. “Mom’s going to be pissed with us, isn’t she?”

Jacques gently stroked my cheek with his hand. “I can handle it if you can.”