FICTION

The Un-tick Box List of the Ideal Man

When the dream meets reality

His mother was sitting in his father's armchair staring blankly into space. Earle walked up to her. “Mum?” He noticed broken glass fragments on the floor. There was a church pamphlet on the coffee table. He picked it up and flattened it into a dust pan then bent down to pick up the pieces of glass. His mother didn’t say anything, just continued staring into space as if he wasn’t there.

Earle knew that something was terribly wrong but he also knew not to say anything. His mother spoke, almost frightening Earle. “Your dad won’t be coming home tonight. Your dinner’s in the fridge.”

Wild thoughts raced through Earle’s mind. He’d been looking forward to dinner but now he didn’t feel hungry any more. He went into the kitchen where he carefully wrapped the broken glass in paper towels and threw them in the bin. After splashing cold water on to his hands he went up to his room where he changed into a tracksuit then sat by his bedroom window. He was still sitting by the window when his mother came in later.

“Mum, are you okay?” He knew he shouldn’t ask, he didn’t have to ask. The furrows on her brow appeared deeper and darkened by stress.

He asked her if she wanted anything. “A hug,” was her simple reply. Earle had never seen his mum like this.

He encircled her with his arms and whispered, “I love you mum.”

“I love you too sweetheart.”

Veronica slowly let go of her son and turned to go to her bedroom. The strength behind her expression unraveled, revealing a hopelessness that Earle had never seen before in his mother.

“Good night,” she repeated automatically.

Was it really a good night she wondered as she walked out. Veronica couldn’t believe what her husband had told her earlier. She’d really believed he was a principled man of his word, and one she was going to spend the rest of her life with.

When they’d got married she really thought that she had made the right choice. So much for tick box list of her ideal man. Those things only work in movies anyway, she consoled herself. She reached for her mobile phone, intending to call her dad but changed her mind. Instead she dialled another number which wasn’t saved on her phone. She knew it off by heart because there had been a time when it had literally been her life-line.

After three rings and booming male voice answered. Samaritans. Just hearing that word helped her to calm down and focus. Yes, she would come through this and would be stronger and better. Nothing could or would defeat her. She wouldn't let it.

Rejoice Denhere helps businesses and individuals recover from setbacks, putting them on the path to success, using her signature programme “Master Your Life. She is the author of Fearless and has been featured in High Profile Magazine. You can subscribe to her newsletter here.