I couldn't tell her. Didn't want to tell her. And now I haven't told her for so long I don't know how to tell her. She thinks I've taken up a new hobby, boules, with my old work colleague Tom. I should really tell Tom in case she ever sees him or his wife out and about and mentions it in passing. It was for her benefit, the not-telling. I didn't want her to see me any differently. I wanted to remain the husband I'd always been. To stay true to us and what we'd always been. But now, now I'm a liar. A liar with stage four cancer the doctors tell me they can't fix.
©2013 Laura Besley
Flash Fiction Diary
This piece was inspired by the book I'm currently reading, if nobody speaks of remarkable things by jon mcgregor.
I've decided to take part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) again this year. The aim is to write 50,000 words towards a novel, or in my case towards a collection of short stories, within the month of November.
We're exactly a week in and so far I've clocked up 11,121 words. I'm really happy with that result. I'm hoping to get a lot done today and tomorrow and be well on my way to the 20,000 mark by the end of the weekend. Fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted!
I really enjoyed this! I had been thinking the secret was something supernatural. The ending took me by surprise.
ReplyDeleteSurprise is always good! :)
DeleteWhat a sad ending - despite that, a great little read (yet again). Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dorothy! :)
DeleteThe husband cannot remain regardless of honesty, so I'd push to express whatever one wants before one can't express anything. If one's stuck as a liar, lie around the truth for whitespace.
ReplyDeleteGood, and deep, point! :)
DeleteI can really feel for this person. The decision of not telling a loved one, to protect them, or honesty because that is one of the strengths of their relationship, cannot be an easy decision to make.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it cannot and I'm pleased that's what you got out of this piece, Steve.
DeleteHow interesting that he thought telling such a big lie was a way, "To stay true to us and what we'd always been." I don't think that means what he thinks it means.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair comment. I had assumed that they were a strong, faithful and honest couple, but what he's doing now doesn't fit that mould. Ultimately he is trying to protect her from worry, but he won't be able to protect her forever.
DeleteI get that. He doesn't want it to change until it has to. Of course it will have to, but to hold onto those moments of "normal" for as long as possible -- yes, I get that.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I was trying to convey - so pleased that that came through! :)
DeleteThe first thing I thought of was the initial episodes of "Breaking Bad". Really well depicted!
ReplyDeleteHadn't seen Breaking Bad when I wrote this and now I have. You're right. It's exactly like that.
DeleteI totally agree with Steve Green's comment. That is how I felt too. Well done for keeping it tense until the end.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteThis captures that feeling perfectly, not wanting to burden others with the terrible truth to find the burden comes anyway and the lie along with it.
ReplyDeleteSharp, touching, memorable, well told in few words: fantastic flash.
Thanks very much, David! :)
Delete"now I haven't told her for so long I don't know how to tell her" captures the nature of "secrets" so well. Time can get us stuck! Something held back due to a moment of indecision or cowardice may becoming impossible and unforgivable one day ONLY because it's been kept secret for too long. . .
ReplyDeletePrecisely!
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