#tellyoscar

Chapter 6

"So, are you some kind of time traveler or is this like that Christmas movie with the robbery and the guy waking up with his high school sweetheart?" She asked, snapping her fingers as she tried to recall the name. "What's the name?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea what this is."

"Family Man!"

The night wasn't as cold as he anticipated, but the thick blanket of snow made it difficult to walk, so they had to settle on ambling through the snow hand in hand.

Rick explained his predicament while they circled the block, making a detour to a diner they used to frequent in their youth, before their return to B&B.

The rusty old bell above the door signaled their entrance and the waitress behind the long counter waved languidly in greeting. There was only one other patron.

Nat King Cole's baritone voice came from the overhead speaker, setting a comfortable mood.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,

Jack Frost nipping at your nose,

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like eskimos.

Michonne led him to a corner booth, sliding across the worn vinyl seat. He slid in across from her grabbing the faded coffee stained menu in front of him. He already knew what he wanted, but he look through it all the same.

She picked up where their conversation had left off outside. "So, when our relationship ended in your reality, how'd that go? What did you do after?"

Thankful Hearts

[The Richonne Writing Network Collaboration]

She’s looking for forever. Life has taught him forever isn’t real. Can they find something in each other that they both can be thankful for?

tags: #author!michonne, #chef!rick,  #romance, #drama, #angst #thanksgiving love story

Authors:  @greenhearts16, @rwtl2016 and  @chellepo 

Thankful Hearts

[The Richonne Writing Network Thanksgiving Collaboration]

She’s looking for forever. Life has taught him forever isn’t real. Can they find something in each other that they both can be thankful for?

tags: #author!michonne, #chef!rick,  #romance, #drama, #angst 

Chapter 1 

written by @greenhearts16 [tellyoscar]

Michonne Daniels walked hastily down the busy  streets maneuvering around other pedestrians who were all seemingly late for something as well. There was a time when the crowded streets, blaring horns and chaotic fragrances of the city was alien to her. These days she found herself appreciating the constant hustle and bustle.

“I think I’ve had a breakthrough today. An epiphany!”

Her old friend —and the only person she new in the city before moving— Sasha Williams, responded with a laugh. “Alright, let’s hear it.”

Michonne adjusted her cell phone, balancing it between her shoulder and ear as she attempted to open her umbrella to protect her hair from the wintry drizzling rain.

“Well, it probably doesn’t count as an epiphany, since I didn’t technically come up with it myself. Or does it?”

“Here we go again,” Sasha responded with amused curiosity.

“Shush.” Michonne stopped at what felt like the hundredth crosswalk since she left the subway. She glowered at the glowing red hand, warning her not to dart across the street. “These blind dates aren’t working out  for a reason. It’s either I’m not meant to settle down or I’m looking too hard. It’s like that old saying: You don’t find love, love finds you.”

In the past year, Michonne experienced various life changes. It started when she left her home state of Georgia, in an uncharacteristically spontaneous act, to seriously pursue her writing career.

New York City, her new home, was one of those capitals of culture where young writers and artists flock to display their ambition and “authenticity” with the high stimulus of the city as a backdrop.

Of course, in the current digital age Michonne knew there was no need to be physically  present in a particular place  to succeed as a writer, but the city gave her a focus that she enjoyed. It forced her to keep everything together and stirred her ambitious spirit.

All the unfamiliar things — the cacophony of car horns, the overcrowded subways, the strange aromas— propelled her in ways her suburban Georgia neighborhood didn’t.

Life was dynamic and exciting.

Now, a year after her move, she had a contract with a well-known Publishing house and her first novel was in the final stages of the publishing process. Professional success came swifter and easier than she ever anticipated.

She couldn’t say the same about her love life. It didn’t help that she was now the frequent victim of blind dates that ranged from dull to disastrous.  

[ read more here]

Day 4 (Part 1)

Porter, VA - Population: 299

Sleep did not come easily to Michonne and when it did, she dreamt of him. She only remembered the details in pieces, but the emotions she felt was palpable. In the dream, she stood in a field of flowers which surrounding a vast calm lake. The sky was clear and blue and there were birds chirping.

He was there, of course. She remembered his smile and how his closeness made her feel. He had taken her face in his hands, making her pulse quicken when his honeyed mouth was against hers.

She woke just as they settled in the field of flowers, skin pressing against skin. It was what could have happened on Maya's porch had she not pulled away abruptly after the second kiss.

There was a fight between two opposing sides within her. One that fought to guard her heart from further heartbreak and the other that just wanted to give in to what was clearly and rapidly forming between them.

The former side won.

"It's pretty late." She cleared her throat nervously as she slid away from him. She adjusted her blouse, fixed a stray loc, and then suddenly found the wooden armrest more interesting than any further conversation or physical interaction. "I want to be up early tomorrow and it's been a long day."

Day 3 (Part 1)

Porter, VA - Population: 299

Michonne didn’t particularly care for jogging outdoors.

The gym in her upscale contemporary apartment building afforded  her with all the exercise she desired and she never had to set foot outside. Unfortunately, after the mammoth meal her mother presented during their dinner for two, she didn’t have the luxury of stepping into an elevator to climb onto a treadmill or exercise bike.

It was for that reason she found herself standing on the sidewalk outside her mother’s house at six in the morning, stretching her muscles before her run. Thankfully, her joyride with Rick gave her a general idea of the town’s layout.

She peeked up at the large house across the street as she lunged back with her right foot, holding her stretch. Now that she was closer, she observed the ivy ferns that grew against the sides of the house, the eerie silence, the waterless stone fountains. Against the early dawn light, the remnants of the merrier times filled with splendour were almost visible.

Day 2 Porter, VA - Population: 299

The morning sky was bright and cloudless and the air still and tranquil. The neighborhood was deceptively quiet. Other than the twin voices, the only sounds were the creaking sound of rope against wood and the birds chirping merrily in the solar lighted fluted bird bath in the center of the garden.

"A turnip festival?"

Michonne smiled at the chirping birds, surprised gardening held her fickle mother's interest long enough for her to cultivate an immaculately landscaped front yard.

It was impressive.

"Yes, we have it every year. It's a longstanding tradition."

"And your plan is for us to make sculptures out of turnips to enter a competition at the festival?" Michonne asked making sure she was understanding what her mother was proposing.

Chapter Sixteen: The Glimmer of Hope

"Sure, everything is ending," Jules said, "but not yet." ― Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad

Michonne woke to the sound of muted chatter outside her tent. With thoughts of their uncertain future on her mind, she had barely slept more than a few hours. She desperately yearned to find somewhere that offered more safety and permanence than an open clearing in the middle of a Georgia forest. Their first camp being overrun by walkers was enough to keep her on edge.

"Morning beautiful."

She looked up to find Rick crouched down near the opening of the tent smiling at her. She rose to a sitting position, returning his smile as she stretched her sore muscles. "Good morning to you too."

He peered over his shoulder, before quickly slipping into the small tent with her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"Me too." He crawled toward her, invading the cramped space of the tent. "So, today's the day."