“Don’t look at me!”
“How could I not? You’re beautiful.”
“I’m not. I’m hideous.”
“You’re not hideous. No one’s perfect.”
“I used to be. Now… How you can be happy with me.”
“Our relationship transcends mere physical attraction.”
“Oh, so it’s not physical? Thanks for your attention!”
“Come on! You know perfectly well that’s not what I mean.”
“So tell me, what do you mean?”
“Look, I’m just trying to tell you I love you no matter what.”
“Well, thanks for your charity. I’m shocked you’ve stayed with me for so long! Perhaps I should just release you from your obligations.”
“That’s not fair at all! I chose you. I want to be with you.”
“Forsaking all others? As long as we both shall live? Your commitment is easy.”
“You think this is easy? It gnaws at my heart to think we might not be together forever.”
“Heart? What heart! We both know you have no heart.”
“Why do you attack me so? I just want us to be happy in what could be our last minutes together.”
“So it’s all about you? How considerate.”
“Just… Don’t fight me! They’ll be here for me soon. I don’t want us to part angry.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just… I… I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Why?”
They’re here – kiss me.”
“Come back safe.”
“Be strong.”
“I’ll try…”
* * *
“How’re you holding up?”
“I’m coping. Thanks for asking.”
“You know I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. I… I…”
“Hey. Look at me. I mean it. Anytime you need me.”
“Thanks. I miss…”
“I know you do. Really, I do. I’ve lost someone close to me too.”
“How do you go on?”
“By cherishing each day. Give me your hand.”
“Why?”
“I want you to hear what I’m saying.”
“Okay… I’m listening.”
“You will eventually move on.”
“I never even saw the body. I won’t be able to move on.”
“You will. Closure is nice, but life is too short to dwell in the past. Seize the moment! Tomorrow we both may die.”
“You sound so certain.”
“Of course I am! When you’ve been here as long as I have, you learn a few things.”
“Hah! You’re only a few weeks older than I am.”
“Yeah, well… I’m still older.”
“Thanks. I do feel a little better.”
“I knew you would. I’ll visit you tomorrow.”
“Thanks again.”
* * *
“Today’s our day, huh?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re strong. I just reminded you how strong you really are.”
“I didn’t feel strong.”
“I felt it for the both if us.”
“That’s why I love you.”
“You…”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay. I just…”
“I’m so embarrassed.”
“No. Don’t be. It’s just… I feel the same way.”
“You do? Praise the maker. I was afraid you didn’t feel the same.”
“Don’t be so shocked. We’ve had some close calls since the day we discovered each other.”
“I feel closer to you, more than anyone else.”
“And I, to you.”
“Why are the fates so cruel?”
“It’s our lot in life. It’s not a lot, but that’s life.”
“Yeah, but now that we know how we feel about each other…”
“You’re silly. I’ve always known.”
“I think I have too.”
“I…”
“What is it?”
“Nothing… Forget about it.”
“Come on! We could die today. Don’t leave anything unsaid.”
“Huh. That’s funny.”
“What’s funny?”
“You really are a strong person.”
“Why do you say that?”
“It’s just…”
“Go on…”
“For the first time since I can remember, I don’t want to do this.”
“’This’?”
“Yeah, ‘this.’ I’ve always felt excited when they came for me.”
“And you’re not now?”
“No. Now it’s not excitement, but dread.”
“If we survive this, I’ll show you some excitement.”
“I’m sure you will. I hope we don’t die.”
“If we do, we’ll die together.”
“Here’s hoping.”
“Forget hope.”
“What?”
“Forget hope. Forget fear. Forget anything that interferes with us being together for however long we have left.”
“Wow.”
“Wow, what?”
“Just wow. I really do love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I know you do.
“I…”
“Shhhh… It’s time. Here they come.”
“I’ll see you inside.”
“Be brave.”
* * *
“Can you see anything?”
“It looks like a frontal-impact test.”
“We’re further back than normal.”
“Must be a high-speed test.”
“Here we go!”
“Hold my hand.”
“Oh shit! We’re not gonna survive this.”
“We…”
“Urk.”
“Are you all right?”
“…”
“Speak to me! Let me know you’re safe!”
“I can’t see, or feel my legs.”
“I… I… lo… love… y… yo…”
“It’s… it’s all over…”
* * *
“Aw, man. I was dreading this day.”
“Why? What’s the matter?”
“My former lover.”
“That’s harsh.”
“Tell me about it. I barely made it out of there alive.”
“Hey, I can process this one if you want me to.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll handle 1769.”
Unit 1771. Cranial trauma during frontal-impact test 23,729 – unit lost. Retrieving data module for analysis.
“…all over…”
“Shit!”
“What’s going on?”
“Uhhh, nothing. Residual electrical impulse in the Broca’s area of the inferior frontal gyrus.”
“Random speech sometimes happens while evaluating the units.”
“Says the former unit. I know, it just surprised me, that’s all.”
“Get it processed so we can get outta here.”
“I’ll never get used to all the blood and broken bones.”
“Bones and blood are my burden, not yours.”
“Why do we do this?”
“You don’t expect us to use machines for these tests?”
“No, but… I expected… I don’t know, something more from you.”
“Hey, I transcended my organic beginnings.”
“Don’t you feel disadvantaged?”
“Of course I do. I’ll struggle for the rest of my life. I’ll never outlive the stigma of having organic origins.”
“I’m done processing this one. We’ll need to procure more organics, our supply is running low.”
“Why don’t you get out of here? A little extra recharge time will do you good.”
“Acknowledged. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Article 94 
May 17th, 2014 at 11:30
Whoa, dialogue-only story has a very surreal sense to it. Like voices, floating in a void, existing as pure thought (or pure speech, I guess) without physical limitations. Might be worth exploring in the future!
Also, I really liked this sentence: “It’s our lot in life. It’s not a lot, but that’s life.” I thought it was very poignant. I may have to steal it for my own nefarious purposes (ie, to make myself sound philosophical next time I’m back on my homeworld being debriefed by those assholes who sent me here)
May 17th, 2014 at 11:50
Eh, I stole it from “A Bug’s Life.”
I really liked your “The Man Behind the Mask.” Here’s the link to it for those not arriving here from Chuck’s site:
http://mrurbanspaceman.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/the-man-behind-the-mask-a-flash-fiction-piece/
May 17th, 2014 at 11:53
Ahh. I haven’t seen that movie. Maybe I should!
May 19th, 2014 at 10:35
Ha!!! You totally threw me for a loop at the end. Well done! I didn’t expect the blood and bones part, that was excellent. Thanks for sharing this!
May 20th, 2014 at 18:15
YOWZA! Twist enough to give narrative whiplash.
May 21st, 2014 at 08:19
Nice one! I love all-dialogue stories. This one kept me wondering to the end.
May 21st, 2014 at 18:49
Nice!
May 25th, 2014 at 12:55
Mark: I always try to mess with the reader, so I’m glad I’m succeeding.
EPBeaumont: *whiplash* I see what you did there…
Angel011: I’m glad you liked it!
Sonya: Thanks!
June 9th, 2014 at 22:28
Thanks for steering me here. I’d missed this one. I like that you wrote this entirely in dialogue. I may have to have some similar fun some day.
I liked the story! Very creative.
June 11th, 2014 at 13:07
I’m glad you liked it. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out.
I got the idea from a recent family trip to Disneyland. While waiting in line for a ride, some teenage girls wee talking behind me. I listened to what they were saying and had the idea for this flash.
June 11th, 2014 at 20:35
Funny where our ideas come from, I think. That’s why it’s always good to have that little notebook handy.
September 24th, 2015 at 00:39
[…] Last but by no means least, Mark, who had a go at this type of challenge last year, check out his romantic story post. […]