With a sigh she sits down at last, in his chair, covered in a plaid that doesn’t go with anything else in their living room. The chair that despite her protests he insisted on getting-and she insisted on nicknaming Sore Thumb. She is bone-weary, but proud of herself. She has survived another day without him.
She holds his letters with timorous hands, reminding herself each time her eyes trace the handwritten pages that she mustn’t cry and smudge the ink. But as words on paper throw wide the door to anguish, tears slide down her cheeks.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she slouches her body into the comforting softness of the plaid that never will match anything in their living room. A sore thumb. A constant reminder of him. She is glad.
This week's word prompt is:
DOOR
1: a usually swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed and opened; also : a similar part of a piece of furniture
2: doorway
3: a means of access or participation : opportunity <opens new doors> <door to success>
Valerie! Excellent! I could see that so vividly. Well done, my friend. Yes, come here and visit and see the blossoms on my trees and feel the heat of the day. (hug)
ReplyDeleteThanks Renae! That sounds like heaven:)
DeleteThat was such a well done sensitive piece. Excellent work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann! That means a lot to me!
DeleteThis is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Draug:)
DeleteWonderful, beautiful, and heartbreaking. You write so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThanks Megan-That is so kind and I appreciate it so much:)
DeleteMy father passed away at the end of November 2012. I could picture my mother when reading about your character.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say November 2010. My fingers get muddled at times.
DeleteCie-my fingers get muddled too! Thanks so much for reading and telling me about your dear mother:)
DeleteI love that the sore thumb is also a source of comfort in a sense.
ReplyDeleteLisa, thanks. I think my character is feeling that too:)
DeleteThis type of story is hard to write and make real... you did.
ReplyDeleteTed, thank you! I really and truly am honored by that!
DeleteThis is a beautiful story - touching and sad. It's funny how something can be a source of contention and then when the person is gone, it can offer comfort.
ReplyDeleteJanna-thanks! That's exactly the sentiment I was going for:)
DeleteSo sad, like a ghostly kiss. I loved the phrase 'each time" telling us how often she did this.
ReplyDeleteI loved how tactile this was, the ink smudging, the softness of the plaid, this mismatching furniture.
Lovely as always.
Jennifer, I tell you-your comments are as gorgeous as your writing! Thank you:)
ReplyDeleteA chair named Sore Thumb. That's as rich as a boy named Sue!
ReplyDeleteWhy thanks! I like that! A lot!!
DeleteVery nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe! I'm glad you liked it!
DeleteI recognize that chair. Beautifully told, Valerie!
ReplyDeleteKymm-thank you so much! You know, I love your comments so much I''d like to hang them on the wall;)
Deletehahaha. As long as it's my comments and not me... hahaha
DeleteHmmmmm...Now that idea is not half bad;) Again, I always appreciate what you have to say:)
DeleteOh, this is so beautiful Valerie! So sad, but written with such love. And what is it with men and their ridiculous chairs?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Suzanne! And I agree...;)
DeleteSad and moving - really good piece that put a lump in my throat
ReplyDeleteThanks Thomas! It was difficult to write, because I love happy endings:)
DeleteYou just blew me away with this. "The words on the paper throw wide the door to anguish..." just opened the door to a flood of emotions for me. Such wonderful writing.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! That is such a wonderful comment! Thank you SO MUCH!!
DeleteVery nice, I love the way the sore thumb becomes a beloved object. Thanks (RogRites).
ReplyDeleteThank you, for that comment! I'm glad you liked this one:)
DeleteThat last paragraph is very moving and so well written.
ReplyDeleteThanks a million! I appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteI really like this. The body language you include is well written too. (I'll have to read it again to see how you did that! )
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! I tried hard to imagine myself in her situation to capture what she would do:)
DeleteBeautifully poignant & handled so sensitively Valerie!Loved this slice of real life:-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Atreyee! I'm so glad you liked it!!
DeleteYou have my vote :-) This is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteRambly, oh thank you so much! I am humbled:)
DeleteSo beautifully written, really paints a vivid image. Thank you. LM x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lyssa! I really appreciate that!!
DeleteCongratulations, Valerie. This is so beautifully written. I always read your writing but my memory not good. Sometimes I read and don't comment...at a loss of words. But am not remembering this and I love it.
ReplyDeleteMaggie-thank you! Don't feel bad about your memory, because mine is terrible! Thank you so much for your kind words of support, too! I really, really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI love this piece so much Valerie! It evokes such emotion and is so vivid! I've been working on a novel for the last few months with grief being a central character. I know that it can be a difficult thing to convey and you did it so lovely!
ReplyDeleteJess, Thank you so much! I wished Melissa, you and I lived close enough to have a writing group! I'd love to read some of your work:)
DeleteCongratulations! And, you almost made me cry--love using that plaid that doesn't match with anything and the "sore thumb" well done.
ReplyDeleteSara-thank you!! I appreciate your comment so much, and I'm honored to have you stop by! It means a lot:)
Delete