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oracleofaal t1_iw16z11 wrote

The candle burns low in the red glass holder between their mostly finished plates while Sinatra croons in the background. She wiggles her wedding ring back and forth nervously on the table as the gentleman across the table from her rambles on about places in Italy.

It had been years since she dated anyone but she vaguely remembered that date number three is supposed to be a turning point in dating relationships. And this was date number three. She wasn’t sure why she kept saying yes, or even why he kept asking but here they were. Why was she here? It felt dishonest or dishonorable to her husband's memory. She had to end this relationship tonight before it went any further before she actually fell in love with the kind soul that had patiently courted her through three dates. Tonight. It would be over tonight and she'd be alone again with his memory, 5 years gone and buried.

Gathering her thoughts together, it took her a moment to realize that the gentleman across from her had stopped talking and was gazing softly at her.

"I'm sorry, I was listening," she apologized "you were saying that retirement is only a few years away, and then you plan to travel to…uh,” she paused before remembering, “Italy." She couldn't remember the details but hoped that was enough to quell any questions about what she had been thinking about. When she ended this, she didn’t want to use her husband’s memory as an excuse.

He lifted his right hand off the table and placed in on top of her left, stopping her from flicking her ring. She stared at her hand mortified because she didn't realize that she has been so obvious about it.

"I'm sorry..." She started to say, but he cut her off.

"Don't be. He was an amazing person. He was a good colleague and friend and I hope he was an amazing husband.” He let the words settle before continuing, “I will never be able to replace him, and I wouldn't want to. But maybe, just maybe, I will be able to stand beside him in your heart."

She turned her face up to really look at the man she was sitting across from and thought for the first time that maybe tonight wouldn't be the end of their relationship and maybe she wouldn't be alone anymore.

[WC: 397]

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AstroRide t1_iwizqhx wrote

This is sweet, but I would expand on the dialogue before he asks to stand beside her husband. It feels too sudden otherwise.

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katpoker666 t1_iwnjr47 wrote

This was a bittersweet piece and I love how you brought us to the widowed part. Like Astro said I think expanding the dialog would be good. I’d also suggest making it six months or the like. Three dates to me isn’t even ‘ I love you’ to me. It’s maybe let’s start calling this a relationship/ consider exclusivity. I think the longer timeline would increase believability of the very sweet line about wanting to stand next to him someday

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oracleofaal t1_iwnq8pa wrote

Yeah, I was trying to go for a feeling that he'd known her for years as a friend before she was widowed and it didn't come through. I need to figure that out. Thanks for the feedback.

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