She Wished She’d Kissed Him

Summary

Two high school classmates, sharing a mutual but unspoken crush, miss their chance to express their feelings for each other during a moment of closeness at a party.

Abstract

The narrative revolves around a missed romantic opportunity between two high school students who have harbored mutual feelings since the beginning of their writing class. During a Halloween party, they find themselves alone on a patio, sharing a cigarette and engaging in deep conversation about their future beyond high school. The girl, with plastic snakes adorning her hair, yearns to hold hands and kiss the boy, but the moment passes as they are interrupted by a call from his girlfriend, leaving her to wonder about what could have been.

Opinions

The author conveys a sense of wistfulness and missed connection, emphasizing the fleeting nature of opportunities for romance.
The use of specific imagery, such as the plastic snakes and the shared cigarette, suggests a tension between the allure of the moment and the reality that prevents the characters from acting on their desires.
The story reflects on the theme of unrequited love, highlighting the emotional complexity of teenage relationships and the impact of timing and circumstances on personal connections.

When love is too late.

Plastic snakes wound through her wavy hair; he wanted to touch her. They’d left the Halloween party and were back at his parents’ house.

Sharing drags off the same cigarette, on the patio, they discussed life after high school. Since the first day of writing class their crush was mutual and unspoken.

She wanted to hold hands; fingers interlaced, brown and white. Her heart raced. Leaning in closer, fondling the wine glass, she imagined kissing him, loving him.

She wondered what could have been. Sharing the cigarette was the closest they’d ever get to a kiss. His girlfriend was calling.

MICROFICTION

She Wished She’d Kissed Him

When love is too late.