Flash Fictions by Benjamin D. Togate

While it Lasted

Once it was actually done and over it felt different than she had imagined. She didn't feel desparate. She didn't feel scared. She felt sad, but okay.

Like it was meant to happen, sooner or later. She had known for a while, yet clung to the idea that marriage was forever.

Well, her's wasn't. And when she and her soon-to-be ex-husband had screamed enough, they sat down to have the talk. It wasn't like they hated each other. They still cared for each other. She cared for him. He was a good man. But somewhere along the years together, love faded and they were not good to each other anymore. It was time. And so they decided, this would be the year, they'd split.

At first she was crying histerically, calling her sister, who then called their brother to tell the bad news. They showed up at the house a day later. This sounds like a long time, but they actually lived a continent away. They had flown in. She couldn't believe it. . She was so happy.

"We brought boxes" her brother said smiling "and beer!"
And so she answered with a smile through her tears.

And they started packing, in the heat of the day, only a slight breeze and the fan to keep them cool. And while they packed, they chatted about their lifes and things and updates. Her brother had a new girlfriend. It was very fresh, he was very much in love, but she was a cat person and he was a dog person so he didn't know where this would lead yet. Her sister was still single, enjoying her work as a therapist but longing for a family of her own. It would happen though, she was sure of it. She was happy to have them with her in this time, to chat about the big and little things of life while slowly packing her own life into boxes.

Soon, she would leave it all behind. The life she had known for the last 10 years. Her beloved house by the sea. Her view of the ocean.

The smells of humidity and salt. The heat. The food. The markets. The smiles. Her garden and her plants. Oh, how she would miss it all. But she wouldn't leave it all behind.

She'd take her dog. Her guitar. Boxes of books and things. And so many cherished memories.

It wasn't for nothing. Despite the problems she and her husband had faced, they also had good times. They fell in love, shared so much passion, travelled the country, they laughed and they cried, they fought, they made up, they planned their future together, they changed... and then decided to go their separate ways.

"You'll be okay, sis" said her older sister.

Her older sister saw the exhaustion on her face. She herself knew she'd be okay, but it wasn't easy after all. Change is never easy. But often, it is necessary.

"I know" she said, sitting down on the porch.
"It's so nice here" said the sister, leaning against a beam outside.
"Yeah" said the brother, looking out into the sea "it's beautiful"

"Let's enjoy it, while it lasts" she said taking a deep breath and a sigh of relief.