To Be Alive And Desired

Chapter 14: Mother Or Lover?

She, was a bored wife and mother, longing for escape. He, was her escape. She, needed to be happy again. He, was all she needed. For what seemed like a moment, they were happy together. "Oh, how great it is," she thought "To be alive and desired". But he had to leave.

Elise drove home in silence, occasionally wiping a tear from her face. She took a few deep breaths before entering her house. Her and Nelson barely said a word to one another. Neither got good sleep that night. Him, wondering about his wife. She, wondering about her lover.

The next day Elise does not have work, so she tries to enjoy the day with her daughters while Nelson returns to his job. Although she tries to be upbeat, Trinity knows something is weighing heavily on her mind. She's been able to sense tension between her parents for a while now.

Elise: Does anyone want to make dinner with me?

Minnie: Me!

Elise looks at Trinity, who looks like she doesn't want to.

Trinity: . . . Sure. I'll help.

As Elise makes dinner with her daughters, she thinks of the possibility of losing them. "How could I even think of leaving my daughters?" she thinks to herself.

Elise: I love you both, with all of my heart.

Trinity: We love you too, mom.

Minnie: Yeah, mom. We love you.

Minnie gives Elise a hug, and some of the food on her hands gets on Elise's shirt.

Elise: Careful.

Minnie quickly backs away.-

Minnie: -Oops!

Elise sees how sorry Minnie looks.

Elise: It's ok. It's just a shirt. It'll clean off. Get back over here.

She pulls Minnie back in for a hug.

Elise: And you too.

Now Elise grabs Trinity into their hug.

Trinity: Hey! I actually do care about my clothes.

Elise hugs her daughters tight.

Elise: Not more than I care about you two.

All three enjoy this moment together, as a family. When Nelson comes home, Minnie is the only one who speaks to him like regular. The Campbell family eat dinner together and a thought runs through Elise's mind. "What if this is the last dinner we have together as a family?" is what comes to her mind multiple times. "I could never do that" she thinks.

Nelson: I'm going out, tonight.

Trinity: Again?

Nelson: Yeah, again.

Elise: It was just a question. We don't like seeing you like this.

He stares a hole through his wife.

Nelson: . . . There's a lot of things I don't like. I told you I was going out this day. Now I'm going out again in a little bit. You don't have anywhere to go that you can't stay here with our daughters. Do you?

Everyone awkwardly stays quiet for a few seconds.

Elise: . . . No. No place I'd rather be.

Nelson: I would hope not.

Although most would say the meal tastes good, the Campbell family isn't able to enjoy it for the rest of the meal. Afterward, Nelson goes out as Elise cleans the dishes, and whispers to herself.