The Letters

Paul Bell

It was great for a time
Sex and wine
Wine and sex
Then commitment and open and shut curtains.
Special delivery of child made the bond complete
Six months down the line
Breastfeeding was action watched from a distance
Intimacy was a tired look
The neighbours' cat looked hot
Killed the lonely nights
Killed the commitment outright
Got to know the lawyer through rapid bank withdrawals
Weekly child visit watched over by Brutus
Bar visits watched over by the world's condemned
Special occasion became a twice yearly treat
Birthday and Christmas, a bit of hate thrown sideways.
Then the new man.
Felt good for her.
Maybe some pressure off.
Possibly missed that lobotomy bar lecture.
Years dragged the hate forward.
Time moved on.
One day I wrote her a letter expressing my anger.
She wrote back in triplicate.
I wrote back in double triplicate.
She sent a thesis on men and asses.
Suddenly, without thinking, we had dialogue.
After a while, we moved on from the anger.
We became human again.
I actually liked writing her letters and receiving them.
We never got back together.
But the letters kept us close.
Sometimes there would be a kiss at the end.
The little bit of love I probably never deserved.
I would mention it to her in my next letter.
Even an ass deserves a solitary kiss now and again.
The bar room lawyers would probably agree.

  • Author: Paul Bell (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: January 20th, 2022 06:24
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 13
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Comments5

  • dusk arising

    A story of life which reveals that there is more to walking away than walking away.

  • L. B. Mek

    'After a while
    we
    moved on, from the anger.
    We
    became, human again.'..
    (If
    'we' could just
    spoon feed this, realisation
    to the world, at birth
    how far, could we have made it
    as a species...)
    thanks for sharing, a wonderful read
    and I loved those lines,
    Anger, is such a cheap emotion

  • spilleronsheet

    And that’s the power of letter
    Loved the way the letter could mend the way
    Good one dear Paul

    • Paul Bell

      The good old letter, tangible.

    • Rozina

      Hardly get letters these days. All online. Except bills. What a touching story. Reading this made me sad.

      • Paul Bell

        I suppose bills can be sad, that reminds me, tax bill.

      • Goldfinch60

        Powerful emotive words Paul.

        Andy

        • Paul Bell

          Must be the January blues.



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