Alex Gunner

The Bottle

“It’s Raining” she called out quietly as she peeled away from the window. The glass had steamed up where her warm breath met with the cold pane. “You’ll just have to take a coat love” a reply came from the bedroom. Melanie had been hoping that wasn’t going to be the response she got. It had been 6 months, 3 weeks and 2 days since her last date and had been hoping for things to remain that way however it was her flatmate Jo’s insistence that she get back out there which changed her mind. Melanie was shy. She had always been shy since she was little, she remembered hiding behind her mother’s skirts whenever they were at the till in the shops. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the cashier, just afraid of the human interaction. Conversation didn’t flow naturally from her, that, and she was always self-conscious about her looks. Melanie would joke saying that she looked like a squirrel and Jo, her somewhat liberated friend would reply “even squirrels are obsessed with nut’s” with a wry smile stretching across her face and a cheeky glint in her eye, “and it’s about time you get yourself back out there and meet a nice fella”. “Now look” Jo said, “I’ve laid out a dress for you that I think will be perfect for you tonight and don’t worry I’ve gone conservative with my choice, I know you’re going to his place for dinner and you don’t want to give off the wrong impression”. Melanie shuffled across their small living room to peer into her bedroom where Jo had been busy arranging her attire for the evening. On her bed laid a blue summer dress and matching rain coat. “I thought you could wear these” Jo said while brandishing a pair of gold earrings in her hand, with two shiny white pearls dangling from the ends. “Ok, I’ll be out in five” Melanie said as Jo brushed past her and left, quietly closing the door leaving Melanie with her dress and her thoughts.