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brabbel123This is my first little ficlet I've ever published - go me! *g*
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15minuteficlets' word #53 - evasive
The value of not knowing
„Get to the point! You’re always so evasive, trying to soften the blow. I don’t want that!” Carol was so frustrated that tears sprang into her eyes. She didn’t know what was going on, why her husband suddenly spent more and more time at work. Gary was a lawyer at one of the most prestigious firms of the region, so she was used to his long working days – but never has it been that bad. She hardly ever saw him anymore, let alone talked with him for longer than the usual “How was your day?”
At first Carol didn’t think about it too much, but the evil seeds of doubt had begun to grow ever so slowly until she couldn’t dismiss them any longer. Was her husband, the man she had sworn to spend her life with, the father of her 2 beloved children, having an affair? Was the life they had built together nothing but a lie, an oh so sweet deception? She couldn’t stand the uncertainty any longer. Despite the fear, that her suspicions might be true, she had to know for certain. She had invested too much into this relationship not to deserve the truth. That’s why she finally, after 6 months, gathered her courage and confronted him. But as usual, Gary didn’t want to talk after work. This time, though, Carol wasn’t to be denied an answer.
“Carol, please, leave it be. I don’t want to hurt you!” Carol had never seen the tears form in her husband’s pleading eyes, eyes that were haunted by some hidden pain she couldn’t fanthom. Suddenly she knew that this wasn’t about an affair or something as trivial as that. She walked over to Gary who was sitting on one of the uncomfortable wooden kitchen chairs. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. She noticed that he had begun to shiver and his shoulders were shaking as if he couldn’t hold back his tears any longer.
Putting her arms around him in a gentle embrace she asked again in a soft voice, “What is it, please tell me! Whatever it is, we are going to deal with it together.” Gary seemed to calm down at this, he looked up from her shoulder – and despite the tears that were still flowing down his cheeks, Carol knew he had made up his mind. He was going to tell her.
“Carol, remember when I went to my routine check-up 6 months ago?” Of course, she did. Both their lives had been turned into hell when Gary was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago… but it had been in remission for 4 years, he was practically cured, wasn’t he? And suddenly, Carol wasn’t sure she really wanted to know, she wished she had never insisted that Gary told her what’s been on his mind lately, that she hadn’t challenged his evasive answers. She only managed to nod mutely.
“The cancer… it’s back!” Gary whispered softly. And her mind went blank.
15minuteficlets' word #53 - evasiveThe value of not knowing
„Get to the point! You’re always so evasive, trying to soften the blow. I don’t want that!” Carol was so frustrated that tears sprang into her eyes. She didn’t know what was going on, why her husband suddenly spent more and more time at work. Gary was a lawyer at one of the most prestigious firms of the region, so she was used to his long working days – but never has it been that bad. She hardly ever saw him anymore, let alone talked with him for longer than the usual “How was your day?”
At first Carol didn’t think about it too much, but the evil seeds of doubt had begun to grow ever so slowly until she couldn’t dismiss them any longer. Was her husband, the man she had sworn to spend her life with, the father of her 2 beloved children, having an affair? Was the life they had built together nothing but a lie, an oh so sweet deception? She couldn’t stand the uncertainty any longer. Despite the fear, that her suspicions might be true, she had to know for certain. She had invested too much into this relationship not to deserve the truth. That’s why she finally, after 6 months, gathered her courage and confronted him. But as usual, Gary didn’t want to talk after work. This time, though, Carol wasn’t to be denied an answer.
“Carol, please, leave it be. I don’t want to hurt you!” Carol had never seen the tears form in her husband’s pleading eyes, eyes that were haunted by some hidden pain she couldn’t fanthom. Suddenly she knew that this wasn’t about an affair or something as trivial as that. She walked over to Gary who was sitting on one of the uncomfortable wooden kitchen chairs. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. She noticed that he had begun to shiver and his shoulders were shaking as if he couldn’t hold back his tears any longer.
Putting her arms around him in a gentle embrace she asked again in a soft voice, “What is it, please tell me! Whatever it is, we are going to deal with it together.” Gary seemed to calm down at this, he looked up from her shoulder – and despite the tears that were still flowing down his cheeks, Carol knew he had made up his mind. He was going to tell her.
“Carol, remember when I went to my routine check-up 6 months ago?” Of course, she did. Both their lives had been turned into hell when Gary was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago… but it had been in remission for 4 years, he was practically cured, wasn’t he? And suddenly, Carol wasn’t sure she really wanted to know, she wished she had never insisted that Gary told her what’s been on his mind lately, that she hadn’t challenged his evasive answers. She only managed to nod mutely.
“The cancer… it’s back!” Gary whispered softly. And her mind went blank.
