She folded each dress in a neat pile and stacked them in the wooden wardrobe. The socks
were segregated from the handkerchiefs and put away in the drawers. Everything moved
in clockwise precision for Lucy's morning school.
"Did you....
"I remembered to pay the school fees on time", and a broad smile flashed on his face.
Last time he had to pay a small penalty.
They ate their breakfast together in the kitchen slurping on maple syrup pancakes and
laughter.
Their little cottage attracted both admiration and envy from the neighbours. Mrs. Annie
said that their home was built on the foundation of love and each brick was cemented
with understanding.
She winced in pain as her back stiffened . The hot water bag arrived to ease her pain.
Her tired eyes smiled, sending a small 'Thank you' note to him silently.
"Hope Lucy's examination goes not clash with our wedding anniversary next month", as
she stirred the spinach broth over slow fire. The knife on the chopping board came to a
standstill as he raised his hand to wipe a solitary tear that had escaped his eye and a
suppressed sob made his face pale. "These onions are pungent", he complained as she
turned to look at him. His bundle of grief been been tightly held by the rope of patience
when all pills, potions and psychiatrist treatment failed.
Four decades ago Lucy waited at the crossroad for the school-bus with the tiny silver
prattle in her hand. Fate had other plans. The prattle lay beneath the vagrant truck tyre.
He kissed the tarnished silver rattle in the darkness of the night.
She had not buried Lucy.
were segregated from the handkerchiefs and put away in the drawers. Everything moved
in clockwise precision for Lucy's morning school.
"Did you....
"I remembered to pay the school fees on time", and a broad smile flashed on his face.
Last time he had to pay a small penalty.
They ate their breakfast together in the kitchen slurping on maple syrup pancakes and
laughter.
Their little cottage attracted both admiration and envy from the neighbours. Mrs. Annie
said that their home was built on the foundation of love and each brick was cemented
with understanding.
She winced in pain as her back stiffened . The hot water bag arrived to ease her pain.
Her tired eyes smiled, sending a small 'Thank you' note to him silently.
"Hope Lucy's examination goes not clash with our wedding anniversary next month", as
she stirred the spinach broth over slow fire. The knife on the chopping board came to a
standstill as he raised his hand to wipe a solitary tear that had escaped his eye and a
suppressed sob made his face pale. "These onions are pungent", he complained as she
turned to look at him. His bundle of grief been been tightly held by the rope of patience
when all pills, potions and psychiatrist treatment failed.
Four decades ago Lucy waited at the crossroad for the school-bus with the tiny silver
prattle in her hand. Fate had other plans. The prattle lay beneath the vagrant truck tyre.
He kissed the tarnished silver rattle in the darkness of the night.
She had not buried Lucy.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/02/alive.html
ReplyDeleteTragic. Very well narrated. Crisp.
ReplyDeleteThanks Magiceye for reading and commenting.
DeleteBeautiful. His love for her despite, because of her delusions and memories are the apex of love.
ReplyDeletetheir love is true and has withstood the test of time . Thanks Virginia C.
DeleteIt takes a strong person, a strong love to survive not only the death of a child, but your wife's delusions. I particularly liked the part where he covered his grief by blaming the onions.
ReplyDeleteLove bestows upon one the power to hide the grief and continue life for the sake of loved ones. Thanks MM Schreier.
DeleteI enjoyed the crisp descriptions of the folded clothes and the chopped onions. No one else commented so it's probably just me, but I didn't understand what the last line meant.
ReplyDeleteLittle Lucy was dead but her mom refused to accept that she was dead and continued her life as if Lucy was still a little girl sending her to school etc. Time has stood still for her. Thanks Nathan.
DeleteI like how you showed the deep love and connection between the couple with a silent thank you note or how the hit water bag arrived without her asking. Especially, how he continued to go along with her delusion to avoid hurting her with the truth.
ReplyDeleteLucy was snatched away from their lies but their love, respect and mutual understanding has grown with time. Thanks Leony for reading and commenting.
DeleteI liked the minute detailing, Kalpana. Could actually visualise her doing the chores, sitting at the table, talking and chatting, eating breakfast.
ReplyDeleteBut, such a sad end! People and their memories of ages ago seldom part ways. :(
Not all endings are beautiful, Shilpa. sad that she has never come out of the trauma. Thanks dear for reading and commenting.
DeleteIt must have been very hard on the husband to have to live with a grief that he had to hold onto because his wife couldn't let go and got lost in her own delusion.
ReplyDeleteThe husband could not even grieve for his lost child as he has to put up a false appearance before his wife. Thanks LaissezFaire for reading and commenting.
ReplyDelete