Goodbye

Summary

A man in Detroit reflects on his wife's sudden departure from their marriage of twenty years, grappling with loss, nostalgia, and the mundane routine of his day.

Abstract

Set in Detroit, the narrative unfolds through the eyes of a man whose wife has unexpectedly left him. The story captures his morning routine, which is now overshadowed by the absence of his partner. He is surrounded by reminders of their life together, from the scent of her perfume to the memories of their intimacy. His attempts to carry on with daily tasks like making a sandwich or taking his medication are intertwined with moments of longing and regret. The man is consumed by thoughts of his wife, questioning why she left without a proper goodbye, and he is left to confront the silence of his now solitary existence.

Opinions

The author conveys a deep sense of loss and heartache through the protagonist's reflections on his marriage.
There is an underlying theme of taking loved ones for granted, as the character reminisces about the small intimacies he misses.
The silence from God in response to the protagonist's prayers symbolizes a broader existential silence, reflecting the man's isolation and despair.
The mundane details of the protagonist's morning, such as cutting his finger or pouring orange juice, serve to highlight the stark contrast between his past shared life and his present solitude.
The lingering smell of the wife's perfume and the warmth of her kisses suggest a longing for the comfort and familiarity that has been lost.
The act of facing the rush hour traffic becomes a metaphor for the protagonist's need to confront the reality of his life without his wife, despite the emotional turmoil it causes.

A Short Story

Canva-Photo by Gabriela Pereira

Early morning. Detroit. The sound of the air-conditioning buzzing in my ears. She has left our broken home for places unknown. No forwarding address. No telephone call. Just the anger in her dark eyes as she hurled insult after insult. We were married for twenty years—bound by lust and love and pain. I stand at our kitchen window and watch the squirrels chase each other up the maple tree. I know very little of this world that I live in and the creatures that occupy it.

I call to her in my heart, begging her to return to the place we have called home all these years. God answers my prayers with a booming silence and I am left to my day dreams and baloney sandwiches. I cut my finger with a knife and sort through the medicine cabinet for a Band-Aid®.

The smell of her perfume lingers in my nostrils. I remember the touch of her fingers on my chest as she pulled on my hair and the warmth of her kisses on my lips. So much I took for granted when she was here.

I open the fridge and pour myself a glass of orange juice. I take my blood pressure medicine. Time is a gift that we often forget to open.

It’s morning in Detroit and I must face the rush hour traffic. I wonder what she is doing this morning and my eyes fill with tears. I didn’t even say goodbye.

Listen to the author read Goodbye.