August 5, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about an open door. It can be literal or metaphorical. What is behind the door? Who is seeking and why? As the writer, how will you manage the discovery? Go where the prompt leads!
What If? – by Hugh W. Roberts
As I watched figures going through the open door, not even the pattering of rain on the roof of the car took away the fear I felt.
“What if…”
As my hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, anxiety began to snowball out of control.
“What if..?”
The thoughts of home and a warm bed were welcoming and safe.
“What if..?”
As I drove away, the LGBT community, who I feared, would have to wait another two years before joining them behind the open door that led to non-judgmental new friends, a new life and being who I really was.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch. Click here to join in.
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Click the ‘Diversity with a Twist’ image to check out my latest post on my column at the Carrot Ranch.
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Hugh's Views & News 
Sometimes we miss out on what we don’t know is waiting to accept us. Courage is pushing through the door nonetheless. Wee written story, Hugh!
Thank you, Charli. I certainly learned my lesson after experiencing this scene, although it took me two years to realise my mistake.
Great tension in this telling Hugh. 🙂 xx
I’m glad it came through, Debby. Thanks so much.
I really felt that fear, Hugh. Two years is a long time to wait.
It was, Norah. And now I look back and wonder what on earth I was afraid of. But I’m older and wiser now and would have done things differently. But I guess we can all look back and say the same thing.
We can all be wiser in retrospect, Hugh.
I wanted the MP to be eaten, dissolved in acid, turned inside out by seeing the unseeable and you do a touching poignant little nugget… your stories really need a health warning.
If this and all the others ever make it into Glimpses 3, then I’ll certainly add a health warning.
Wise!
Nicely done.
Love,
Janie
Thanks, Janie.
Nice. You got all the angst in there, had me feeling sorry for the poor guy driving away…
In this piece, the big ‘what if..?’ for me was ‘What if there is somebody in there who knows me?’ What I never thought about at the time was if they were there, then why was I so afraid of them seeing me?
LOL! True 🙂
Nothing creates as much anxiety as the what ifs!
You’re right. I just go for it these days, but I’m older and wiser than I was back then.
Nicely done Hugh
Thank you, Willow.
Always a pleasure to read Hugh 💜
Wonderful inspiration and glimpse into the uncertainty you felt then, Hugh.
Thanks, Terri. You’re the only one (so far) to have picked up that’s it me in this piece of flash fiction.
Made sense to me, Hugh. Well done. I remember by brother’s struggle.
One of those twists. Wonderful, Hugh!
Thanks, Erika.
You are welcome, Hugh!
Well done, Hugh!
Thanks, Dan.