My 20 shorts in 20 Days is a way to stimulate your creative juice,

to come down off the high of #NaNoWriMo, Prep for #campNano

and just have some fun with writing.

Write 500 or 5K words using the above prompt image.

Or Set a Timer for XX minutes... and Sprint!

Have a good time.

"I don't want us to be strangers again."

Time 5:45 - 6:05 AM

Walking the the remnants of last night's blizzard, Claire wished the busses were running. Her boss had insisted she go to the store and open it on the off chance anyone would venture out to buy scented candles and luxury soaps. 

"Christmas is coming," her boss had added cheerfully after sentencing Claire to 10 hours of boredom bookended by an hour long trek through the worst of winter. 

'I hate my job,'  was the mantra chanted over and over in her mind as she stomped through the snow on numb feet.  

It was so consuming to put one foot in front of the other as she crosses yet another deserted street, she didn't hear the car sliding toward her until a frantic horn had her looking at her murderer. Frozen into glacial stillness, time seemed to wait for her imminent death. Then there was a rush of movement, something strong lifted her and she flew between two parked. She laid there breathlessly terrified then looked into the eyes of her savior. 

"Walton? Wh-when did you get back from the w-war?" She stammered out stupidly as she laid on his chest.

Eyes the color of whiskey in a bottle crinkled in amusement, "I'm home for the holidays." His voice vibrated her heart as he spoke. She didn't move, she couldn't, She had dreamed about a moment laying in his arms since he had deployed two years ago. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out so he chuckled. "So, are we going to lay here all day or were you going somewhere before you almost became roadkill?" 

She squeaked in embarrassment and jumped up, holding out her hand to him. "I  am s-s-so s-sorry, I... I was g-going to w-work," She stuttered, hating the nervous tick in her voice that ruined every romantic moment of her life.

He took her hand and stood, not letting go. "Right... Mum said you still worked at The Scents and Suds shop. I was actually on my way there. I need to get presents for my sisters and mum. Mind if I walk with you?"

"N-no,I-I-I d-don't m-m-ind," Claire wanted to ...

TIME 20 Minutes, W/C 328

Claire wanted to die in humiliation but she forced out. "I'm g-glad you're h-h-ome s-s-safe."

Hanging her head to hide her blush, she was surprised when he stopped and pulled her back to him. "It's okay, cricket. I missed your voice, I missed your extra syllables."

"Ohhh," she breathed out, trying not to remember the way he had pushed her away after he was drafted. The way he made her feel; one day they were friends, the next, strangers. "Why?" She fumbled to put the key in the lock and open the door. 

He smiled sadly in his lopsided way, "I promised myself when I came home I would find you. I don't want us to be strangers again."