Member-only story
SHORT FICTION
The Bait — Chapter One
Is this relationship doomed?
They are sitting under an umbrella haphazardly propped through a hole in the middle of a plastic table. Her back is fairly straight while he is slumped on his haunches. He is contemplating a glass of lime-coloured, milky concoction with bobbing ice shards, stirring at the contents every few seconds. It is around 7:30pm.
“They’ve promised…I believe they mean it this time,” he exhales, making eye contact for the first time in the 15 minutes since they sat across from each other.
“You’d said that six months ago….” she frowns as she squints at him, daring him to refute her. He lowers his gaze to the drink.
“But I’m really going to work for them. I’m signing the contract tomorrow. You’ll see,” he whispers inaudibly to the half-empty glass twirling between his fingers.
“About time. You’ve been unemployed for a year.”
Silence.
“How much will they be paying you?” she persists, her voice softens in anticipation. You know what he’s like, her mind exclaims. But there’s still a possibility, her heart reasons.
“Don’t know. We haven’t discussed it yet. MYR*XXXX?”
