It’s funny how stories come to you. I see an empty chair at a table and think of someone being stood up, the end of something. Yikes! Why not the beginning? The anticipation? Maybe it’s the photograph. I’m not completely pessimistic, you know. 😉
Despite a rather dismal attempt to get back into the habit of Friday Fictioneers awhile back, which didn’t take, if you hadn’t noticed, I am going to give it another try. My current motto is to keep writing regardless of what it is and whether I truly bore you all to tears. For which I will be forever apologetic. Sincerely. Although, really, being bored to tears is much better than being bored to death, doncha think? Many thanks to our leading lady, Miss Rochelle for keeping Friday Fictioneers alive and well for woefully blocked writers like me to return to.
The Fairy Tale Ends
You promised forever. And then cheated. And then promised again.
That should have been a clue.
Like your bloodshot eyes in our wedding photo.
How you’d rather drink than socialize with my friends.
How you couldn’t find a job that met your demands.
Until there was no job.
SAHF, you declared.
My fairy tale died with each case of beer—“it’s just beer.”
Each excuse. “I’m too smart for that.”
Each indictment of my character. “Your fault.”
The sofa embraced you, the coffee table a receptacle for beer cans.
This is not how it was supposed to be.
end
It’s a difficult path, living with addiction. And in most cases it just gets more difficult. Re the writing… I struggle too these days. I’ve read you have to write your way back to writing. I’m still waiting though…
I agree whole-heartedly. I’ve known several people who’ve battled with addiction. It rarely ends well, or optimistically. It doesn’t help that society has little empathy, frequently.
Oh, the writing. I have decided this week to just keep putting words out and see what happens. All the best to you, Sandra, and your writing.
Portrait of my first marriage, lol
Ouch! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Welcome 😁
I hope it’s pure fiction, I have been on the edge of that in friendships – horrible.
I hate to say it is not. It’s unfortunately based on truth. Thanks, Paul!
Sorry to hear that 🤗
Thanks. It’s always very hard to watch from the sidelines. Distance helps you view situations much clearer.
I get that, agreed 🙂
Time to leave him behind.
I think so. Thanks for reading! 🙂
As a counselor, I learned that addicts are very, very good at lying. I could picture one couple I worked with who could have written your story in real life. So sad.
Sadly, I think you know it’s time to clean house.
I agree. Thanks for reading! 🙂
This is heart-breaking ❤️
Thank you for reading. 💖
This was really good and very accurate which is probably not a good thing for you (if this is based on life) or others who went through something like this or similar. What does “SAHF” mean?
Thank you, Michael. This seems to be an unfortunately common situation of late. SAHF is stay-at-home-father taken after the more ubiquitous, stay-at-home-mom (or mother) SAHM. People love their acronyms, ha. And when you’re trying to keep within 100 words they can be quite lovely…although I guess the hyphenation would have kept it at one word….sorry for the ramble. 🙂 Thanks again!
Sascha, good to see you at FF again! I’ve played that duet before, until last call. Good song choice for your story also.
Thank you so much, Lisa. That is a hard road and I hate for anyone to be going down it. 💖
This was very powerful. The way you’ve structured it with short sentences and spaces in between intensifies the feeling of a series of downward steps in their relationship and in his condition. So tragic. And on being blocked – oh boy can I relate to that. I’m glad you’re breaking through.
Thank you so much, Margaret. And I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been blocked too. I don’t want to sound all dramatic, but it can feel pretty devastating when you want/need to write and can’t. I hope you’ve gotten through it. 💖
You’re welcome, Sascha. And yes, I’m back on track at the moment it seems. I’ve been reading quite a lot about the whole process of writing and learning to roll with the punches, so to speak. If nothing comes for months on end, well I’m not the only one to have that experience, and it doesn’t mean it’s all over. I think I’m starting to believe that’s partly just how my ‘writing brain’ likes to work. I hope that’s the solution anyway. All the best with your writing. It’s wonderful when it’s all going well.
Dear Sascha,
I have noticed your absence. Good to see you back. Simply written, your story packs a powerful punch. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you so much, Rochelle. I hope to continue! 🤞🏻 💖
I’ve been on and off the FF game too. With stories like that you don’t bore anyone to tears, or to death. 🙂
Most of us have seen or experienced similar situations I guess.
After I wrote this it seemed like a bunch of articles hit my in-box about how there’s been an uptick in alcohol-related deaths. Very sad.
I hope to read your writing again. Take care! 🙂
I fall on and off the FF wagon too. This was anything but boring: raw, sad, touching, real
Thank you so much, Michele. I appreciate your comments! 🙂
So well written!
Many thanks, Dahlia! 🙂