Only Truth by Unknown
Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Epub3
Publisher: Penzler Publishers
There are other flowers in the room. A vase of white lilies sit by the window, their funeral scent competing with Matthewâs bouquet. The long-stemmed anthers have dropped pollen onto my new gray carpet, making a stain like bile. I donât like them at all. Theyâre coffin flowers for the dead, all lifeless waxy perfection.
I try getting out of bed to move them but as I stand up my legs turn to water and my head spins. Theyâll have to wait for Tom.
Later when I wake Tom is sitting by the bed. He has Matthewâs card in his hand. When he sees Iâm awake he hastily returns it to the bedside table where it belongs. He looks vaguely guilty and suddenly I feel sorry for him. I stretch out my hand to him.
âHey.â
He takes my hand in his and this time I donât pull away.
âOh Izzy,â he says, âIâve been so worried about you. Iâm so sorry.â
Iâm not sure what heâs sorry for; itâs not his fault I was ill.
âWhy are you sorry silly, you didnât make me ill.â
I try to smile but my lips are cracked and dry. I must look a sight.
âI know but Iâve thought about what you said and youâre right. I made us come here and everythingâs gone wrong, so it is my fault. Iâm meant to look after you.â
Please Tom, after all I said donât you get it? It isnât your job to look after me. We should be partners, equals. I donât say this, he looks so tired.
Instead I ask, âWho are the lilies from?â
âMadeline dropped them round. Sheâs visited a couple of times to check how you are. Sheâs been really concerned, which is sweet considering what sheâs going through.â
I imagine her in my house with Tom, all silk shirts and pert nipples, while Iâve been up here in bed. It doesnât sit well with me and I feel a little of my kindness seeping away.
âWhat is she going through?â I ask and I hear the arch tone to my voice despite my best intentions.
âJoe has moved out. Remember I told you they were having problems, well apparently heâs left. I donât think itâs permanent, more a trial separation to see if theyâre better apart.â
I donât say anything other than âThatâs sad,â but a little part of me finds it a bit unusual that Joeâs the one whoâs gone. I thought he was the would-be abuser and I thought the abused usually fled. I remember the scarf and fleetingly wonder how long ago it was that he left. I donât want her lilies in the room.
âTom, please could you take the lilies down with you when you go. I donât like the smell and theyâre spoiling the carpet.â
He looks at me and suddenly asks, âWho is Matthew?â
âMy friend,â I reply, âyou know, like Madeline is yours.â
He looks like Iâve slapped him and I regret saying it. Heâs not a bad person and neither am I, so I mustnât act like one.
âIâm sorry,â I say, âthat was petty.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
I Have Something to Say by John Bowe(3285)
What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey(1475)
Doesn't Hurt to Ask by Trey Gowdy(1400)
Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson(1319)
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh(1030)
Disloyal: A Memoir by Michael Cohen(1022)
American Dreams by Unknown(860)
Don't Call it a Cult by Sarah Berman(841)
Infinite Circle by Bernie Glassman(830)
Home for the Soul by Sara Bird(812)
Group by Christie Tate(810)
Talk of the Ton by unknow(735)
The Silent Cry by Cathy Glass(683)
Total F*cking Godhead by Corbin Reiff(664)
Severed by John Gilmore(655)
Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table by Carole Bumpus(648)
The Battle of Mogadishu by Matt Eversmann & Dan Schilling(614)
Before & Laughter by Jimmy Carr(604)
Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died by Ty Alexander(599)