Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; travel by unexpected routes and strike him where he has taken no precautions.
Sun Tzu
‘Some people in this house....’ Aries looked up, gauged my attention level, looked back down and finished, ‘…aren’t as fond of you, as you are of them.’ Eyes met mine in stillness.
Goliath.
‘Okay. There’s nothing I can do, no one’s done anything to me that I’m aware of.’ I responded. We sat in silence.
I hadn’t known Aries suspected I knew her parents harboured ill will against me. Yes, Mary liked me at first. When my attention drifted from her to Aries everything changed. I was caught between two people I loved but it was no contest, I favoured Aries.
I got up, went to Aries and we held each other. Her face in my neck, I soaked her in; memorized the feel of her against me. The time was near. By speaking about Goliath, Aries had given me permission to fight him. I didn’t think I would actually lose her.
Shortly thereafter I learned Dick had started the rumour. Not only had he started the rumour, he began it years prior.
I continued visiting Mary and the kids but didn’t speak to Dick. What had I to say to him? Mary urged me to discuss my feelings with Dick and I agreed. I would take up arms against Goliath.
When I saw Dick next I mentioned the rumour. I told him it reached my mother, implicated Aries and I knew he spawned it. He laughed. I requested an apology. He sent the kids upstairs. Mary stayed. I asked him what was so funny. He claimed the rumour was a joke and he meant no harm by it. I said jokes make people laugh and I wasn’t laughing. He tried to convince me that others knew it was a joke. I disagreed. Dick called over a neighbour to vouch for him. I asked this neighbour if she believed the rumour, she said she did. I asked her why. She replied, ‘why wouldn’t I? It’s coming from the horse’s mouth.’ Dick excused her and she left. He thought she would lie for him, instead, she told the truth for me. Justice, I had won the battle. The battlefield however, belonged to Goliath.
Dick instantly changed the subject. He said I owed him an apology. In visiting his family and excluding him from pleasantries, I had disrespected him. Mary broke her silence. Her eyes twinkled as her mouth crept into a smile, ‘you disrespect my husband - you disrespect me.’
Bitch.
The next words spoken were Dick’s, ‘Get out of my house and don’t come back.’
That was it.
Battle won, war lost. Goliath lived and so did I.
I stood at the sliding door, searching for my car keys. They waited like village idiots until I found them.
It was over.
A few weeks later I met Aries at Chapters. She filled me in on the latest – no one was allowed to speak my name.
I had missed Aries’ seventeenth birthday and Goliath would restrict our contact from then on. I was willing to wait for her, willing to let her mature into an adult who’d then be free to do as she pleased. We’d weather this storm. I didn’t doubt for one moment the strength our bond. It would continue.
Strumming through the spines of books, a familiar peace filled me. I missed Aries and this time with her was comforting. Our conversation continued about the day I left. Something I said triggered a response in Aries. Suddenly she stopped, looked directly into my eyes and stoutly remarked, ‘...you’re not blood Lesley.’
The sword pierced my ribs cleanly dissecting my heart. My soul sank to its knees and I fell back.
Short of breath, I said nothing. My eyes rolled back into my head. I didn’t suspect she felt as her parents had this whole time. All my love changed nothing. It was nothing. It meant nothing. I became nothing, dissolved into a mist.
I know Aries. I know I’m not blood, I‘m water.
Continued on Monday June 27th 2011
Until then, I remain yours,
Lesley
Hallelujah Heartist
This was deeply touching, and I felt teary when I clicked on the video you linked with the post. Nice work!
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