A Short Story

Thought I’d post some words I wrote a few months ago. Why not?

 

They had been married for seven months. Noone had ever said when the honeymoon period was meant to end but, for him, it hadn’t yet. He couldn’t speak for Her of course – she, though selfless, thoughtful, and caring, was often detached and cold. He always told himself he loved it about Her. He thought it nice she didn’t wear her heart on her sleeve and sometimes he didn’t know what she was thinking. But it was ok. He took it to mean love and affection was a given, it didn’t need to be spoken, announced, because it was there. There. There for both of them to be inside. If you’re inside it, you don’t have to say you’re inside it. You just stay.

While that may or may not be true, he didn’t let it bother him. If you’re in love with a girl who loves art, there’s nothing to say there isn’t a girl out there who does not like art but you could still love. There is not one person to love. If you know this then you have more power to accept discrepancies in your loved one’s character. You know it could have gone another way but there would always be other discrepancies. He doubts she thinks like this. Maybe she doesn’t even love him. Maybe she doesn’t need to. He doesn’t need to know.

He worked late a fair amount. He worked away as well. Out of town. Cliched but true. The fact that he did not know how this made Her feel made him awkward. He told himself it made him comforted. But it didn’t. He’d seen the films and read the books and thought if he worked a lot, she should care and tell him to stay in, skip work, go to bed early. But he didn’t want that. He had this girl who didn’t need love because she was so strong. A strong girl has to be a good thing. He was married to a strong girl. He never thought he would be. It’s the conflict between being attracted to strong women and being intimidated by them. He hadn’t resolved this conflict yet, despite their marriage. Other men were attracted to strong women too and it would suffice to say strong women should be attracted to strong men. Not that he wasn’t strong, he hadn’t seen his place in the strong index but he assumed, at least, he wasn’t weak.

It was late on Tuesday night. He had finished his work out of town early and decided to head home that night instead of spending another night on his own in a sterile-but-dirty travel lodge. He knew he wouldn’t be back in time to make it a romantic gesture but nevertheless a night with your wife is better than a night away from your wife. If she did appreciate this, she wouldn’t show it.

It was raining so he decided to get a taxi to the house instead of walk. This was a mistake as he needed more time to think. More time for his head. His concern at a lack of appreciation from Her was pathetic. They were married. If anything, these concerns would drive her away into the arms of a stronger man. What if she was already in the arms of a stronger man? He could not imagine how an affair might change her demeanour around him. Maybe it would evoke a greater, more outward, affection. But on the other hand, maybe it wouldn’t change a thing. He would never know.

He unlocked the front door. He had been soaked between the car door and the house – he may as well have walked. All the lights were on in the house. A half-empty wine bottle sat above a kicked-off pair of shoes in the lounge. He turned the lights off and made for the stairs. He didn’t call her name because he thought she’d be asleep. It was bad enough coming home early but waking her as well. He trudged up the stairs like a working man should. The bathroom door was open and light reflected off the wet floor. There was a light on in the master bedroom, the only bedroom. Maybe she is up anyway. Shocked at how scared he was at opening the door to his wife, he tip-toed to the door and gently turned the handle. He opened the door, not so slowly to make it seem stealthy but not quickly enough to dismiss any fears about his lack of confidence.

He opened the door and there she was. She was sat up in bed reading. If she was surprised she didn’t show it. He explained why he was home and went over to her side of the bed, he kissed her cheek. He had taken off his coat and blazer downstairs. He glanced round the room as if it were different because he hadn’t intended to be there at this time. She had put down her book and was staring at him. He took in a deep breath and told her he slept with someone else the night before.

A young girl, musn’t have been older than 20. If she was angry, she didn’t show it.

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