Choke On That Bread [Fiction]

Whoever said a twist of fate isn't real has never seen how a simple statement can turn a couple's day upside down.

Miranda was having one of those mornings where a brilliant idea hit her like lightning and won't let go until she found a way to bring it to life. Her boyfriend, Joe, was shaving in front of the bathroom mirror when she sneaked up behind him.

“Coconut bread for breakfast?”

He paused and sighed. “Miranda, we both know you're terrible at cooking. Now you want to bake?”

She gave a mock gasp, placing a hand on her chest. “I won't let you hurt my feelings with your distrust but I'll do it anyway and you can choke on that!”

As she walked away, hips swaying and a playful smile on her lips, she didn't notice Joe's eyes widening in surprise at her words.

Within an hour, the aroma of freshly baked coconut bread reached Joe, drawing him to the kitchen. There stood his girlfriend of two years, leaning on the counter and sipping a cup of tea in satisfaction.

“I see the kitchen is not burned down. I was afraid I'd have to call the fire department or something,” he said, staring at the golden coconut bread. “Can I have a slice?”

“Why? You doubt my ability to cook a meal. I think I should eat this bread all by myself.”

Joe grinned and clasped his hands together as if in prayers. “Okay, I'm sorry. Pretty pleaseee.”

“Huh.”

The scent of the fresh bread grew stronger as the crust broke crisply under Miranda's knife. She placed a thin slice on a bread plate and handed it to him. Joe took a deep sniff, sighed and took a bite.

Miranda watched with quiet pride as her boyfriend chewed slowly, smiling and nodding in satisfaction. In an instant, his expression changed subtly as a discomfort flickered across his face in his attempt to swallow.

“Uh, are…you okay?”

Joe cleared his throat but his voice came out strained. “I…think so. What…ingredients did you use?” His eyes widened as he clutched his throat. Miranda grabbed his shoulders and shook him, a chill creeping up her spine. “Talk to me, Joe. What is it?”

She let out a shriek as Joe dropped to the floor on all fours. The bread had formed a deadly lump in his throat. His face turning a frightening shade of red, he pointed his hand to his phone on the counter. Miranda quickly called the emergency services and within minutes, Joe was in the hospital and treated for a preservative allergy.

Once he was in the clear, they held hands in silence as the weight of her words hung heavily between them.

“You told me to choke on it,” Joe whispered. Miranda burst into tears. “I didn't mean it like that! I'm sorry.”

He held her to his chest. “It's okay. No more baking experiments for you!”

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I hope you enjoyed reading this short story inspired by the Freewrite #dailypromt word or phrase "choke on that".

Thank you for visiting my blog.

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