MICROFICTION

curatedmicrofiction.com - 300-word stories that are free to read on the website and occasionally featured here

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Normandy - October 2024
Always Near - December 2024

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Love and Gas Money

By M. Gail Stelter

JUN 19, 2025

The porch swing rocked back and forth. Maggie found herself counting each passing minute. Time moved slowly, and the evening sun was setting among the spring blossoms.

Where the hell was he? It was not unusual for Mike to be late, but two hours was too much even for him. The last time he was this late, he showed up broke and said he lost all his money in a poker game. She had to give him money for gas.

Did she love him? He was her tumbleweed of conflicting emotions. He was her wild ride on the Maggie and Mike rollercoaster. She soared on the highs of dances, clubs and parties and reached a pinnacle of contentment in loving moments of conversation and intimacy. She screamed to the bottom in depression and threw her arms up in the anxiety of waiting, wondering and worrying.

Did she even matter to him? Maggie believed he loved her. She felt her heart full of love for him, and yet, she craved someone dependable. She needed him to be there when she expected and needed him. She craved someone financially responsible. Her mother had always said, “Love flies out the window when the money has gone blowing in the wind.” Maggie shuddered, thinking this might be her life with no gas money, always late Mike.

Was love enough?

Moonshadows cast sadness. Sighs became anger and frustration. He could have called. Anger slid into tears. She got up to go inside. She was done.

Just then, Mike drove up. He greeted her with a wink and smirk. He reached for her.

“Hi, my love. You look great. Are you ready to roll?”

Dried tears were hidden away, and only a sigh remained. Maggie paused. Maybe being late was just his way. Perhaps the poker game had been a one-off. They were not deal breakers. She loved him. He loved her. Of course, it was enough.

She heard herself laugh and said, “I sure am.”

She opened the car door and jumped into his arms.

As they drove away, he said, “Do you have any gas money?”

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