The Festival

Jenny stepped out of the car as the festival music caressed her ears. Normally she would have stayed home when John told her he had to work late but she had been looking forward to the music festival for weeks and decided to go alone.

Colorful booths dotted the streets in AnyTown while street vendors wandered the crowds loudly hawking their wares. The bands were changing at the heart of the festival so the cacophony of instruments being tuned and moved added to the audio scenery.

People pressed close all around Jenny as she watched a lady dressed as a fairy seated upon the street selling pictures and blessings. She flittered her arms smiling sweetly at the parents tossing paper money into her woven basket while Jenny watched from the sidelines.

All around her the people ambled hand in loving hand. Even the children held onto one another as they scampered from booth to booth yet Jenny braved the festival in solitude.

She stooped to pat the head of a little puppy trailing on Master's leash admiring the animal's soft fur. Standing up she felt her body brush that of another. She turned to apologise---

It was John.

Their eyes met and John quickly looked to the side.

He was not alone. Beside him stood his roommate Rick, mouth open with astonishment.

She stood there in surprise looking at her boyfriend and his roommate. Why did John say he had to work when he was at the Festival anyway? She had told him she was staying home, so it definitely was not to look for her. Why were they not saying hello?

John and Rick mumbled an apology as they turned away. Hand in hand they darted into the crowd leaving Jenny behind.

All she could see were their hands.