Short Stories About Unrequited Love & Longing
We can start this blog post out with a collective sigh. Unrequited love is just one of those things: no one wants it but everyone has experienced it at one point or another. Right? Or maybe that’s my past misery speaking and working its way into my short stories about unrequited love. I remember (however distantly) having the biggest middle school crush on this guy who was my friend but never anything more. My younger self was devastated. Looking back, it’s all good and I ended up having a different boyfriend I was super into, so it all worked out.
I was also on the other side of unreciprocated love, too. There was this guy—really tall and blonde but not my type—who worked up the courage to ask me out in one of our elective classes and I turned him down. I felt bad, but I also didn’t want to lead him on. Anyway. Enough about my teenage dating life.
Short stories about unrequited love capture the poignant essence of longing and heartache, weaving narratives that resonate with anyone who has ever loved someone who did not return their feelings. (Ugh, the pain!) These tales often explore the depths of emotional vulnerability, where characters navigate their dreams and frustrations, revealing the complexities of their unfulfilled desires. Through evocative language and relatable scenarios, readers are drawn into the bittersweet experience of watching love remain just out of reach. Or at least, that’s what I’m hoping draws you in. The emotional moments, often marked by silent glances and unspoken words, highlight the beauty and sadness of affection that goes unreciprocated, leaving a lasting impression long after the final page is turned.
In my book Thirteen Emotions, there are a few short stories that touch on unrequited love. One is about a wife who no longer feels her husband’s desire; one is about a woman on a terrible date who definitely without a doubt does not want to go home with the guy across from her; and one is about a mistress, left to wonder about the state of her situation. I’ve also started writing a bit of poetry—which isn’t like me. I’m actually kind of scared of writing poetry. But here we go.
Here’s a microscopic poem about one-sided feelings I wrote:
I don’t think you like me
At least, not in the way I want you to
And that’s it, ladies and gentlemen. Short, sweet, and kind of sad. Isn’t that what poetry is all about? I’m honestly asking because I have no idea. I only wrote this poem about a week ago. It feels daunting to me, which is why I know I have to try. Do what scares you! Terrifies you, even! (Okay—I’ll write poetry but I absolutely will not go in a haunted house or hold a spider.)
One thing that scares me about writing poetry, even more than fiction, is people being unable to differentiate between my words and my life. Of course, writers draw inspiration from themselves and their world. However, not everything is word-for-word accurate. Or has even been experienced by me. It might be something I’ve heard, seen, wished would happen. But that’s a topic for another post. For now, let’s get into my short stories about unrequited love and longing.
Short Stories About Unrequited Love & Longing
Photo found here.
It’s Not Me, It’s You
What did I do to make you not want me? Was it something I said? Something I did? Did my body change or was it yours? Do you see me differently than you used to? I wish I could see what I look like through your eyes. But then again, it might make me not want me either. It’s lonely sleeping beside you and sensing your warmth but not actually feeling you, inside me and out. Touching you.
Read another preview of It’s Not Me, It’s You here.
A Bold Woman
“Want to know a fun fact?” he asked, oblivious to her lack of enthusiasm. She didn’t, really, but she was on the brink of starvation and until their food arrived she had nothing better to do.
“Sure,” Gabriela responded listlessly.
“I live right near here.” His thin lips twisted into a devilish grin. “I thought I could show you my place afterward. Maybe for dessert? If you catch my drift.” He winked. He actually winked. Gabriela looked around. Did anyone else catch that? Nobody?
“I’ll likely be too full for dessert. If you catch my drift.”
“Oh, come on, sweetheart. It’ll be fun.”
“No, thank you.”
“I can show you my new Jeff Koons.”
“A picture will suffice.”
“Gabby—can I call you Gabby?—I’m paying for this very nice dinner. The least you can do—”
Read another preview of A Bold Woman here.
A Man in Your Situation
It’s been an hour and you’re not here yet. It’s okay. I’ve poured a bubblebath, loosely tied my curls on top of my head, and am mixing a vodka tonic from the overstocked minibar. Moonlight is beginning to stream in through the wall of windows. I undress, leaving my little black Jean Paul Gaultier dress folded neatly on the corner armchair. My stilettos are strewn by the desk; easy enough for me to slip back on when you lift me on top of it later.
Read another preview of A Man in Your Situation here.
If you’ve experienced it before, reading short stories about unreciprocated feelings evokes a sad familiarity that resonates deeply within. Each narrative unfolds a tapestry of longing, where characters grapple with their unspoken desires and the pain of love or longing not returned; revealing the complexities of attraction, the weight of silence, and the ache of one-sided affection. Each story serves as a poignant reminder that often, the most profound loves remain unacknowledged, echoing in the quiet spaces of our lives.
Brb. I’m going to go cry into Thirteen Emotions now.
—ᴍᴍᴍ