Very Short Stories

Story 1

I sat in his pristine living room with him no where to be found.

The couch was an off white that matched the carpet. The tv hung in the middle of the wall, but it's never really on.

The couch felt like sitting on a cloud, but the silence of the place was throwing off how comfortable I was.

I took my thumb and started fiddling with the promise ring he got me that said "forever". It always sat on my middle finger, waiting for its next door neighbor to move in.

I was startled when I heard the front door close.

"You're home late," I smile.

He doesn't smile back. His eyes looked dead and his hair was a mess.

I stepped closer to him and got a waft of strong alcohol.

"Why can't you just leave?" he screams.

"Well, I'd say it's because I paid for this house with you. It's our home," I say.

He stormed his way into the kitchen and got his favorite whiskey glass from the cupboard above the sink.

"Again?" I asked him, but got no response.

He set his glass down and got out the whiskey that we were gonna drink on our wedding night.

I let out a hum in response as he opened the whiskey.

Once he saw what bottle it was his hand started to shake and his face became red.

"NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING IF YOU WERE NEVER HERE," he yelled.

He threw the bottle at the fridge causing it to break and he threw everything off the island as well.

Once he saw what he had done his face softened.

I didn't even realize I was crying and soon he started to as well.

He slid down the wall behind him and held his face in his hand as he sobbed.

I lowered myself down next to him as he continued to repeat how sorry he is.

"I know," I sighed, "I'm sorry too."

He started to clean up his mess after about 20 minutes of just reflecting and I left him to do his thing.

I got ready for bed as he started cleaning and waited for him in our bedroom.

"Good night," I whispered as he climbed into bed next to me.

Once I heard him start to subtly snore I decided to kiss him on his forehead.

———

It has been a couple months since he had his meltdown in the kitchen.

"I'm two months sober," he told me as we both sat on the couch.

"I'm proud of you," I smile at him as tears of pride start to prick at my eyes.

Tears started started to fill his as well.

"I met someone at the AA meeting," he frowned.

I went to wipe the tears from his cheeks, but he got to them before I could.

"I know," I whispered.

My happy tears for him started to mix with jealous ones.

"Remember when we met?" I ask him.

He didn't respond.

"I tripped you in the hallway in 5th grade. I never told you, but I did it on purpose. I did it just so that I could help you up," I let out a chuckle at the memory. "15 years later, here we are."

He got up off the couch suddenly which made me check the time.

"It's too early for bed. Where are you going?" I asked him.

He didn't respond again.

He picked up his coat from the ground where he left it even though I kept telling him to at least hang it on a chair.

I decided to stay in my seat on the couch and just let him have this moment alone.

He's probably just meeting that friend he just told me about.

I have a feeling that she is more than a friend though. He got this tint of hope in his eye when he saw her.

I was in the passengers side of the car when she met him at his door to walk into the meeting together.

———

It has been a couple more months and he started to slowly stop talking to me and is pushing me away, but it's been officially a year since his meltdown in the kitchen.

I watched as he walked up over to me and sat down in front of me on the ground.

She was holding his hand and sat down next to him.

She was beautiful. She had long brown hair and gorgeous green eyes.

He found himself a winner.

"This is her," he said as he pointed at my grave.

I guess when he promised "forever" he was only talking about my forever and not his.

"I can't wait for you to tell me about her the next time we see each other," I said; smiling at him with tears running down my face.