“Only a couple days, Chinhua. It’s just play-acting.”
She bit her lip, sorry she’d answered the ad in the South China Morning Post. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just tell them?”
He paled. “My parents are very traditional. Gay is not a thing they would ever understand.”
She sighed, then took the notepad he held out.
It was straightforward.
They’d met the year before, started dating.
Her name was now Lan. She was a student. They were in love.
Later he’d tell them they’d broken up.
It was only for a few days.
After the New Year, they’d leave Wuhan.
Dear Josh,
A rather precarious situation. I think sooner or later, the truth will come out unless Covid 19 catches up with him. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I am picturing them stuck in the apartment for three months, the lie getting thinner and thinner. This could be a great short story.
I’d say “go for it!”
Did you write this with hard returns for each line of dialogue? My phone sent it to me as one paragraph and that made it a little harder to read. (Sorry, snuggled under the covers, not ready to get up and go to face the world/my computer.)
A very good short scene. You do get a lot in with only a few lines!
Yes, I used hard returns for each sentence except the second one. WP is wonky on mobile. In a lot of places, actually. A creaking pile of legacy code. I really need to change my hosting, too. Thanks for reading and the comment!
I wouldn’t know how to change hosting. So, you at least have a fighting chance of working with the kinks of WordPress. I can only complain about them.
The best laid plans… Great use of current affairs. I imagine there will be a lot of stories coming out of this crisis in the years to come. I like the set up here.
Cleverly told, Josh. That last line is a killer.
Life, they say, is what happens while we’re making other plans. A pretty irony, Joshua
Well, you never know what a future holds. Good one.
Now that was different. And very unfortunate too. :(
Not that the situation is the same, but this reminds me of “The Farewell” in which they held a wedding to gather all the family to say goodbye to the grandmother who was dying of cancer. The couple had only been together a few months and had not planned on marriage at all… now I wonder how that ended…
You’ve set the stage for a good drama. All the characters in place, the spectre of CoVid looming, and the possibility of the young man having a partner somewhere out there who could be very sad by the time this is all over. Good writing :)
It’s a weird dichotomy between some humans remain entrenched in dusty traditions while the species is running headlong into extinction.
It’s heartbreaking to think people have to go to such lengths to hide who they are from the people who should love them unconditionally. I’m hopeful that we’re finally moving away from such stigmas.
Well I can’t imagine the ruse will last 3 months without being discovered. I guess that is the upside. Thanks for reading and commenting
You’d think a nasty death virus would put what’s important into perspective. But no, some will cling to their ways.
Great story.
Sure, just a couple of days. What could go wrong. Nicely done.
What a spot to be in. Sure hope he finds the courage to be himself with his family.
Killer last line, sounds like his family will have more to worry about than his sexuality
Sad he has to go to such extreme lengths just to keep the family off his back. As you say, the situation could quickly overtake them and I love the idea of this being a ‘full’ short story – it has such much potential for drama, those two strangers locked in isolation together. It’s a great idea
Thanks!
My pleasure
Good story! Will they be able to leave Wuhan or will they still be in isolation?! I had a viral gene to my story this week!
Good story! Will they be able to leave Wuhan or will they still be in isolation?! I had a viral gene to my story this week!
For some strange reason I believe it’s safer if they stay in Wuhan. :)