"No-one" by Chris TattersallHis wife was comforted by friends and family as he lifted their daughter. It was the smallest of coffins but weighed so heavy on his shoulders, yet no one realized the effort it took him. He was masculine, dependable, strong. Weak in no one’s eyes, he was a man’s man and undoubtedly a hunter-gatherer in a previous life. He had no recollection of the last time he had cried and in this dire situation tears still eluded him. He couldn’t summon a reaction despite feeling so desperate he would willingly give his life to change the recent past. No one saw his pain. Time off on compassionate leave was killing him. His vocation as a Police officer had informed him of life’s possible battles but this was personal for which no training or experience could prepare him, yet no one considered the possibility that he couldn’t cope. He was a rock for his wife, her friends, his parents, seemingly everyone. He soothed their tears, served them with sympathy and gave them strength by proxy. "Your poor wife, is she ok?" "It must be so hard for her, give her our love." No one offered him solace. After the mourners had left and the nursery door closed, their future lacking in life was adjusted to. Time slowly dragged itself forward. Like an excited child showing off her latest toy she rushed out of the bathroom clutching the white stick. Proudly she presented him with it, its window displaying a thin blue line. He put a strong arm around his wife and kissed the top of her head. He showed her nothing but joy. Turning away, his heart sank, he didn’t want to risk any more pain. A tear came to his eye but no one noticed.
2 Comments
Will Bonney
12/2/2019 02:18:43 am
'Like an excited child showing off her latest toy she rushed out of the bathroom clutching the white stick. Proudly she presented him with it, its window displaying a thin blue line.' These two lines stood out for me. Such a sudden shift in the mood. But 'the thin blue line' was a nice touch, a 'bounce back' to him being a policeman.
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Christopher Tattersall
12/3/2019 07:43:29 am
Thanks, I wasn't sure if the 'thin blue line' referring to Police would work for an american audience but I liked it so it stayed.
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