Midday, there he is, like clockwork.
She looks out the window as he walks along the alley.
He gets to the junction and stops.
She checks her watch and starts timing him. Thirty seconds exactly, then he starts walking again.
Everyday the same routine.
She has imagined why he acts this way. Has he lost something, or someone? Is he retracing his steps everyday in the vain hope that someone will reappear at that exact spot at that exact time? A lost lover, a glimpsed stranger, a missing child?
She longs to ask him. It’s not through lack of courage that she doesn’t. She can’t get out of the locked room. Her doctor won’t allow it.
When he tells her about the man in the window he only asks if she has been taking her medication. Is she sure he isn’t a figment of her imagination?
She might be crazy, she tells him, but she knows what she sees. She can trust her own eyes.
Can’t she?

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story or poem in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
46 responses to “THE MAN IN THE WINDOW”
so mysterious… well written piece!
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Thank you 🙂
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Oh, he could be a ghost. Although, the doctor should at least try to see him. If it’s the same time every day, it would be very easy to verify. But doctors…
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Perhaps the doctor has already checked and has told her there is no one there…
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Maybe she’s stuck in a time loop where she experiences the same thing at the same time every day, like in the Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.”
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Less of a comedy if you’re locked in a psychiatric hospital though 🙂
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Yeah, that’s true.
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Intriguing read. Wonder if she really sees him or is suffering from hallucinations. Great write.
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That is the question. Thank you.
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Gripping especially as you leave the reader to decide! Enjoyed all your AtoZ posts – Congratulations on completing the AtoZ challenge!!
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Thanks for reading them. Look forward to reading more on your blog in the future too.
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This story raises a lot of questions. I like the way how she interprets that the man is searching for something when she is the one actually searching for some rationale. Well written, Iain.
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Thank you Varad, I’m glad you spotted that mirroring.
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Intriguing….love to see it expanded!
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Thank you Donna
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Very intriguing, Kelly.
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Thank you Neel
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Back when I was a young mother in my twenties a neighbor stopped to ask me if everything was okay because they had not observed me at my usual routine during the school week. Maybe there was no school because of Parent/Teacher conferences. Whatever the reason – that is a long lost memory – what I won’t forget is they had memorized my morning routine from their favorite local park bench – retirees frequent parks a lot in New York. I was so shocked that they knew when I would pass their “post” just about to the minute during my morning routine of taking my daughter to school, then buying groceries, and they knew even knew which mornings I went to the library. I found it a little creepy at the time.
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That would be creepy, we all do it to some extent, watching neighbours out the window and commenting on what’s going on. I often wonder if neighbours are watching us and noticing what we’re up to.
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Good story Ian. You have left us wondering what is the truth.
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Thanks Irene
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Poor girl, she doesn’t know what the truth is thanks to her doctor! Great story Iain! So glad you are back!
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Thanks PJ, nice to be missed 🙂
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LOL! Yes, it is!
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This is very interesting.
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Thank you Jazmin
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Is he waiting for her?
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Perhaps that is the answer to the riddle. Thanks Reena.
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I like stories like this: so many ways to interpret.
Stu
Tale Spinning
https://stuartnager.wordpress.com/
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Thank you Stu
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Excellent take Iain, I thought cleverly written as well.
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Thanks Michael, much appreciated
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Oh! I liked this…
Maybe she’s totally drugged up, still able to see reality.
Ick! I hope not.
Ellespeth
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Thanks Ellespeth
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I wonder what’s in her medication. Intriguing Iain.
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Thanks Keith
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The doctor’s in on it, and I’m sticking to that 🙂
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Ah, conspiracy theory 🙂
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Who needs an answer here, the woman or the man. You have weaved a nice story here, lian.
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Thank you Rohan.
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Great story, shocking when the reader realizes she is not in her right mind. So is it true? Or her imagination.? Well done.
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It would be a longer story to reveal the mystery. Thanks for your kind comment.
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Nice take! I’d love to see her break free from that room!
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Me too, thanks Pamela.
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This was all going so nicely until I found out she was lock in her own room. That fact gives this a new edge and makes me wonder if the man is looking for her.
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One possible solution to the riddle Sarah Ann. Thanks for reading.
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