The Separation Six

The Young Woman

The Young Man

The Attorneys

Apprehensive, to say the least, about seeing his wife

—and for the reason they were there—

as the young man approached his smile had been forced,

however,

in the eye-­locked seconds it took him to come abreast and pass,

the young woman’s snarl was so absurdly overstated that he couldn’t

help but smile in earnest.

And…

Doing all she could do to “stay tough,”

Her husband’s smile completely disarmed her.

As…

Passing,

standing about six feet behind his wife

on the other side of the hall

staring at her in profile.

The wife sensed he was looking at her and,

Oh, God,

how she wanted to turn and stare back.

But with an extreme show of self-­control

the young woman looked straight forward.

Staring at her,

She’s skinnier than ever,

he thought,

and, to him, then,

wanting to hate the sight of her:

her nose appeared longer

and the flesh tone of her face

appeared more green than tan.

Yes!

He had been concerned about his reaction

when he did see her, but, now, thinking,

She looks really shitty!

This the first time…

Now the young man truly believed he hated her.

Further thinking,

she can go to hell!

They won’t keep me from seeing my son!

F*** her!

Working himself into a hateful anger,

considering telling her to “Go f*** yourself!”

However, looking beyond his wife,

approaching, he saw both attorneys;

his and hers,

together…

both attorneys together?

Stepping across the hall,

the young man stood a pace to the left of the young woman.

“Hi, kids!”

As the young man and his attorney shook hands,

“You may not remember,” his wife’s  attorney said,

“but we sat at the same table at your wedding.”

Although remembering the two attorneys did

sit at the same table while attending their wedding,

now seeing them together however,

both the husband and wife felt something akin to betrayal.

To be continued

©November 4, 2011 / Mark M. Lichterman