Short Story - Very Short

Amber

(all rights reserved ya' bitches)

In a department store dressing room, an Aunt sat holding two purses and talking through curtains to her Niece about the movie they had just seen.

"I thought it was a very cute story. That actress, I can't remember her name, she did a good job. Weren't those costumes gorgeous?" said the Aunt.

The Niece, in her mid-twenties sighed, "I don't know. I think I'm out growing chic-flicks. It wasn't very realistic. In fact, it seemed almost farcical."

"Oh, I thought it was a beautiful story. It was realistic enough for the time period. Wasn't it?"

"Maybe. I'm just tired of female characters being so dull. Fighting an arranged marriage isn't a personality trait. Neither is being pretty."

The Aunt stared at the floor and thought about it.

The Niece emerged from behind a curtain and turned from left to right in front of the trifold mirror.

The Aunt sighed, "You have such pretty legs. They haven't aged a bit since you were in high school."

The Niece smiled in thanks, "You want to know my secret?"

"Sure."

"I put lotion on, everyday, after showering. That's it."

"Every day?" she looked at her Niece's bright eyes.

"Everyday," repeated the Niece.

"Oh," the Aunt waved it off, "that's too much work." She looked back at the floor.

The Niece's smile faded but her eyes did not. She walked back behind the curtain. "That's what's wrong with the world," she said, more to herself, "Reality is too much work but to live in a dream you have to be sleeping."