It figures, I thought. First date and he brings me to this place. Karma, I guess. He asks me the usual questions. Family, work, leisure, pets? It all goes well. He’s a nice guy and says all the right stuff. My side of the conversation goes pretty well, too.
Then it starts. The flashback, the hot sauce, the choking,the paramedics. My mind hopelessly fixates on that awful night when my life started to spin and tumble into something I could no longer recognize.
I don’t even feel the hot tea splash on my legs as I stand up and run out the door.
photo credit: Marie Gail Stratford
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Another submission to Friday Fictioneers, which you can explore at thie site:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/
Retired Ruth 
Sounds like she has had those killer peppers or hot sauce before. Poor thing – she will always have flashbacks if she choked on the hot sauce. I hope she has a better date next time. Great story! Nan 🙂
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Interesting. Makes me want to know what the heck happened before.
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Yes! That was my intent. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Dear Ruth,
This date sounds ill-fated from the beginning. I’d say she needs therapy. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Pardon me for slipping into “Southwest Virginia speak” but – Dang! What a story!
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lol… thanks….
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Ruth, That’s really tramatic. She’ll need to stay away from Chinese restaurants since they have that effect. Good and well-written story. 🙂 —Susan
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I feel the character’s terror! Well written.
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Uh-oh, sounds like it’s time for her to start taking some initiative and recommending different places for the first date.
MG
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