Word Count: 279
They’ve been married a very long time, fifteen years. Still love to play silly tricks on each other.
He’s hidden her credit cards. She’s hidden his keys. He’ll pretend he’s flown to LA on business. She’ll pretend she’s asleep. There have been times when their games have lasted over a month. Like the Christmas he did not want to spend with her family. She finally reported him missing at sea.
They celebrate each anniversary at Guido’s. Sneak crushed pills into each other’s glass of wine. She reacts faster so he always drives home, puts her to bed, then passes out on the floor. In the morning they sigh at their fortune to find themselves standing, shower, eat breakfast and kiss each other goodbye. Thus starts another new year.
But this time something is different. She feels something bad in her bones. When she tells him, he laughs and she wonders. Be careful, she warns as he heads off to work. He holds her a little bit longer. His kiss, just a tad bit softer than they’ve gotten used to. And now she is worried.
She throws out the rest of her coffee. Starts the car with the remote as she watches from safely inside. Tests the brakes, feels under the dashboard. Drives the speed limit all the way to her job.
She starts to relax as she flows with the traffic on the highway. Is annoyed when it starts to slow down. As she passes the charred car it hits her. She forgot to have him take the refilled propane tank out of the back seat. She pulls over, turns off the car and surprises herself when she cries.
What struck me in this (on the second reading, open-mouthed) was ‘She throws out the rest of her coffee. ‘ – such a small but telling observation!
Thanks, Sandra. That hit me like that too. It’s what you hold onto and would gulp down if you had to rush, but never tend to throw it away.