Serendipity

Flash fiction prompt from https://www.eadeverell.com/flash-fiction-prompts/. 5. “The dress spoke for her…” This fifth story is a bit more of a contemporary piece, with a hit of romance. Comment and share if you've enjoyed it!

The mall buzzed with life; its bright lights cast a warm glow on the shoppers as they hurried about. Laughter and conversations blended with the scent of freshly baked pretzels, creating a symphony of senses that enveloped Jolene. While she was in no mood to be in the middle of it, she absolutely needed to get a new dress for one of her best friend's weddings this weekend. She had been putting it off for a while as she abhorred shopping, but time was running out.

Weddings made her feel a bit lonely. While she was always happy for her friends tying the knot, it reminded her of her failing dating endeavors. Although she had had a few serious relationshipsinb the past, it had recently been nothing but first dates that ended nowhere. She had tried a lot of things, including dating apps, blind dates, and setups from friends. She even considered hiring a matchmaker, but part of her was a bit of a romantic, and she believed the right person would find their way into her life organically... eventually.

She had been almost there once. Her longest relationship was a few years ago with someone she had been really in love with. She hoped then that they would get married, but life had pulled them apart. It wasn't anybody's fault; it was just one of those things where they were both focused on their careers, which took them to different places. Wrong timing, even if they had been so great together. Sometimes, she still thought about them and wondered where they were, if they were happy.

Jolene wandered through the mall, trying on dresses that matched the summery theme of the wedding. This was why she disliked shopping; it was an endless dance of looking through racks and trying on clothes that didn't quite have the right look, fit, or color. Some might say she was too picky, but Jolene knew exactly what she wanted, and finding it proved a little challenging. It wasn't so much about the physical aspects of the clothes as it was about how she felt when she wore them. She wanted something that made her feel confident, but was still comfortable.

Then, after looking through what seemed like the entire mall, she finally found it. There it was, at the back of an almost-empty store, the perfect dress. Only one was left, and it was just the right size, as if it was a sign. As Jolene tried it on, she couldn't believe her luck. Gazing at herself in the mirror, she was amazed at how good she looked and felt. The dress spoke for her, the peach fabric hugging her curves in all the right places. Elegance and strength, exactly what she needed. It was as if the dress had been tailor-made for her, a silent testament to the serendipity of this discovery.

While Jolene changed back into her jeans and t-shirt, relieved at the idea of returning to her quiet home, she thought about the wedding. She was looking forward to it, even though she would be going solo. It would be fun to catch up with some friends she hadn't seen in a while, and who knew, she might meet someone there.

At the register, the person in front of her looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place them. There was something about how they leaned on the counter, about their body language, that reminded her of someone. It was that feeling of knowing, without being able to say it. It was only when they turned around after finishing paying for their purchase that she was able to put a name to them.

"Alex?" she asked, incredulous.

The fact that they were meeting in a place like this was incredible. Jolene's thoughts raced to the past, and she was assailed by an emotional storm. Alex had been at some point the one she thought she would marry. It nearly broke her when things ended between them, but it was the right thing to do at the time despite their strong feelings for each other. They were the one that got away.

"Jolene?"

As Alex recognized her, Jolene noticed a flicker of surprise in their eyes, mirroring her own astonishment. It made her wonder what had changed in Alex's life since they last saw each other.

As they both took each other in, she noticed that the kind eyes and gorgeous smile she fell in love with years ago hadn't changed, still making her heart flutter. She remembered getting so distracted in their presence, getting lost in this feeling that this was her perfect match. That feeling was creeping up again, which was both painful and wonderful.

"You look good, Alex," Jolene said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

"You too..." they said, seeming hesitant to add anything else. "I have to go, but it was really nice to see you, Jo."

Alex turned away to leave as Jolene walked forward to the register where the cashier was waiting impatiently for her. The meeting felt too brief, like so much was left unsaid, and Jolene wondered if she should've done more.

"Hey," Alex said bashfully, taking a few steps back towards her. "Um, you wouldn't want to, like, grab a coffee, or something? Catch up?"

Jolene smiled softly, feeling butterflies as a rush of old memories and emotions washed over her. They always had been on the same wavelength, and she was so grateful Alex had taken the initiative. It would be great to reconnect, even if it was only as friends - she didn't want to assume anything.

"I'd love to," she replied, filled with hope despite her best efforts. "Call me?"

She took her card out of her wallet, which had her cellphone number on it. She handed it to Alex, and, as their fingers touched, she felt the spark she had been longing to find again. She wondered if they felt it too, as she thought about the times they spent together, the plans they had made for their future before it all fell apart.

"Will do," Alex promised. "See you soon."

As she walked away from the encounter, Jolene couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of hope. She glanced at the dress she had almost forgotten about, knowing it wasn't the only thing she'd found that day. Lightness filled her heart, and she eagerly looked forward to their next meeting.