Williams Family

3 weeks ago

A storm brews outside, the sky turning into a charcoal gray color. A mist covers my front lawn. Sarah called me 15 minutes ago saying we needed to talk. I already knew this day would come, I just didn’t think it’d be here so soon. I watched through my living room window as she pulled up in her white Honda civic.

I knew what she wanted to talk about before she even banged on my front door.


“Peter garland. you open this door right now!” she bangs on the door again, her caramel hair whipping in the wind. I creak open the door and she barges in banging the door on the coat rack behind it. “Why’d you lie to me?”


“Sarah sweetie, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


She laughs sarcastically, “You don’t know? Then why’d my sister see you with another woman? Hm?”


“My god, your sister? Sarah don’t be so credulous. Your sister is a known drunk and a liar.”


I shouldn’t have said that, I didn’t even think before I said it. She stares at me wide eyed, “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about Peter. The only drunk I know is you.”

* * * *


The rain is down pouring by the time she storms back outside onto the front porch.


“It’s not going to work. So stop trying.” Tears roll down Sarah’s puffy red cheeks, I walk up behind her trying to grab her hand, She pushes me back.


“Sarah, Please don’t do this again.” I sigh in exasperation, “I know “we” can make this right, so please come back inside the house.” He holds out his hand to Sarah. She stares at him like he’s going to harm her.


“We? Peter. There. is. no. we. There’s just you.” I stare at her with pleading eyes, “Please don’t leave me again Sarah. . .”


“I want to,” Just a faint whisper of her voice.” I really do want to stay with you, Like we did when we were teenagers. But it’s not the same!” Her voice is growing vociferous combating the noise of the rain. “We aren’t the same people we once were. And you. . .” she pauses, choking on her words, “ You won’t change.”


Her words are like poison coursing through my veins.


“I’m trying to change Sarah, but you won’t give me a chance!” I say yelling back to match her voice, she swirls on her heels and starts to storm off into the rain, I run after her and grab her arm, I don’t mean too, my hand acts without consent from my brain.


She pulls away, grasping her arm. The look in her eyes changes from anger, to fear.


“This?” She points to me then to her arm. “This is why we could never work. You can’t change, you always say you're going to and you never change!” Her voice is acerbic. “I’m tired of having to wait for you. I’m always waiting, and I’m sick of always being the one in the wrong, when all I’ve done is try to help you Peter!”


“I’m tired Peter, I’m tired of having to lie to the kids. I’m tired of having to drag you home because you're drunk! I’m so tired Peter. . .” she pauses, breathing in a shallow breath, “I want us to be a family Peter, I don’t want to have to lie to the kids when they ask me: when’s daddy coming back? Because I know you're not.”


She’s right, I haven’t changed. I try too and can never seem to find the right ways, Anytime I finally have a break through. . .I just relapsed into the old me.


“You’re right.” I take a step back, away from her. “I can’t change. You of all people know that.”
I laugh a little, thinking about how stupid I was to think I could work this out. We were never meant to be.


"You don’t belong with me. You have so much to give to this world, you and the kids. I’ll just slow. you. down.”
The rain slows, now it’s just a drizzle. We both are soaking wet. She stares at me. I can’t place her face. It's one of mixed emotions, a look that I could never decipher. Was it a look of sorrow? Maybe regret, or pity?


She steps closer to me, she takes my hand in her quivering one.


“I know you can change one day Peter. . .And when you do, I’ll be waiting for you. Just not now.”


She stands on her tiptoes and kisses me one last time. She lets go of my hand and backs away. She smiles, a thin smile of sorrow.


“Maybe in another life Peter.” And with that she’s gone.




* * * *




A rhythmic beeping sound feels my ears as I crack my eyes open, I hear voices around me, Yelling?


“Philip? Philip Miller, can you hear me? If you can hear me, can you squeeze my hand?” I feel so weak. I try to move my left hand, I can barely feel it though. . . I try again, this time I squeeze ever so slightly.


“Yes! Good job Philip. My name is Josie Anderson. I’m a doctor at Hearthstone Hospital. You were in an accident. You’ve been in a coma for 2 years. Do you understand? If so, squeeze your left hand.” I squeezed her hand. “Good job! We’re going to try and keep you awake okay?”


* * * *

Writers note: Sorry for a grammatical errors in this story. I missed my submission for a contest, so I don't have anything to do with this story anymore. It's not complete, but I've kind of lost motivation to finish it, So I guess it's yours now :)

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