Imagining the Final Hours

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

The morning is bursting with spring—warm, sparkling, and full of honeysuckle scent—but she is alone, sitting on her porch, drinking her third cup of coffee, and imagining the final hours of this day.

She is at the end of the third month of a trial separation—his idea, her surprise—though she was never sure what the trial part was all about since there was never a deadline, tacit or not, for when or how it might resolve. She looks at people passing by, going about their business, happy seeming, and for a moment she pictures how sad she must look to them.

Her husband is coming by tonight to discuss something of importance (his words) with her. She is sure what it is: his desire to sever the ties and get on with his life. But she will say it first, and all her life she will relish the surprised look on his face.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

I have always been amazed and intrigued by couples who are essentially nice people but who become unrecognizably mean and selfish when the split-up comes.  The memory of the pain and venom lasts a lot longer than the memory of the love and devotion.

[Teresa]

I think she should have a candelit dinner perpared when he arrives, duck or something, and when he comes to the door she should let him in and offer him something cold to drink.  When her gentleman friend emerges from the bathroom she can introduce him to the soon to be ex, and before ex's eyes return to their sockets she can say, "Tom and I were just about to sit down to dinner.   Your important thing won't take long will it?"

 

I home you turn this into a series.  I've seen a few of these things play out and 90% of the time there's another woman.  Grrrr....  So the wife should just beat him to that punch.  I'd love to watch it unfold.  Excellent pace and enjoyed the "his idea, her surprise" and "his words".  It made things painfully clear.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

@Mike  My idea is that he might say "Whew" that night, but with time he'll  think about it and it'll haunt him.  That's my hope, anyway.

[Mike Handley]

I'm with Angela. Coffee on the porch is sublime, one of life's greatest pleasures, especially in springtime. I'm also with Gita, at least figuratively. If he's already flown the coop, that surprise will quickly become a "Whew."

[Angela]

Well, I hope she tells him she is through with perfect posture and dry eyes.

I think sitting alone on the porch with my coffee looks serene, not sad.  Maybe she will learn to take some solace in her independence and privacy.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

@Gita--of course it's over, but she wants to be the one who says she wants out.  Then he can spend the rest of his life wondering why.  Life insurance is not as sweet as revenge against a living person.

[Gita]

It seems obvious that it's the end, and no point in pretending he's coming by to seek a reconciliation.  But couldn't he have some sort of dreadful food allergy and couldn't she serve him a morsel (disguised) so that she gets his life insurance?

[Sandra Davies]

Ah, but, can she be sure?

[Stephen Torelli]

Toby, you've captured my interest right to the end. And "she will relish the surprised look".... Will there be a followup?