Copyright D McIlroy
She snapped the light on.
“You’ll ruin your eyes.”
He quickly flicked to another screen as she approached.
“Anything interesting?”
“Usual garbage,” he muttered, rising from his chair. “I’ll lock up, shall I?”
She lingered after he’d gone, before tentatively pressing the email icon. Her lips tightened.
“I’m needed in Tokyo next week,” he said as he returned, placing an arm round her waist. “Problems with the deal… don’t mind do you?”
“Just say you’ll come back to me,” she said, leaning into his embrace.
“Haven’t I always?” he teased, “twenty years now.”
Would that ever be enough? she wondered.
A lovely photo prompt from Doug McIlroy this week – just love those slippers. 🙂 Friday Fictioneers is gearing up again this week, with Rochelle at the wheel. I don’t know how you find the time to do this Rochelle, but I’m very glad you do.
castelsarrasin 
Very good….
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Thank you!
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Dear Sandra,
Something tells me that email icon didn’t lead to a business letter. I wonder how long she’ll settle for leftovers. Well written straight to the heart.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think you’re right. But some women do put up with it. Thanks for visiting, Rochelle.
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Impeccable description, and timing as always…..lucky man….for him I mean
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Thanks Hamish; yes, he’s got everything going for him.
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Doubts and its results.. eternal killer of love.. nice !
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Some doubts are more grounded in truth than others. 🙂
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Very touching story, well written.
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Thank you!
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Perfect title, Sandra! That heartless cad. I hope she sends him an email while he’s in “Tokyo” telling him to enjoy his “usual garbage!” Grrrrrr.
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Thanks for reading. Hopefully one day she’ll come to her senses.
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I got the impression that there might be other persons waiting just as eagerly… and the lies will be repeated again for his second lady… 20 years — a long time to live on a lie…
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Some people can make an art form out of deception. 🙂
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this is so true-to-life and all the more heartbreaking for it. She knows, perhaps he knows she knows, in which case he needs to get a grip, or one day she’ll have her own Tokyo to run to (and I don’t necessarily mean a lover).
GREAT stuff this week, Sandra. One of my favourites of yours.
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It’s amazing what some women put up with, unaware that we’re all more capable of living alone than we think we are.
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Sandra, When you write a story, I always know it’ll be good. Poor woman; some men get careless and underestimate us. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
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Thank you Susan! I think you’re right.
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Superb dialogue, Sandra.
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Thanks Paul. 🙂
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“I’m needed in Tokyo next week,” he said (LIED!) Nicely done. Who cares if he always comes back. Leftovers aren’t always that good. Well Done.
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Some people will make do with anything. 🙂
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I see the sequel coming. The Return. Sandra this well showed. The little moments people often miss between the truth and the lie. Excellent.
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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Awe, sad. We’ll written.
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Thank you. 🙂
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So much unsaid in this, and all the more beautiful for it. A really good one this week, Sandra.
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Thanks Claire!
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Well done. And well titled. The future is indeed imperfect, especially when we settle for less than what we deserve. I hope she finds a better life than he is capable of giving her.
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I wondered whether the title was a tad contrived. I had it as a punch line but decided to title it that way.
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Very nice Sandra as usual.
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Thank you for reading Indira.
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Some women will put up with “sharing” to keep their way of life and security. I don’t judge.
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She’d probably be surprised what peace there is to be found in living alone. Thanks for reading.
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Well done, as usual 🙂
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Thanks Helen. 🙂
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After twenty year, she’s still not number one? My mind races to understand why she would do this to herself. Very moving.
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Thank you Adelie.
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Sandra, the title is present perfect as is the story, wrenching in the choices she faces.
janet
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Thanks Janet, glad you liked it.
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Great story to follow the prompt – very touching. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks, Nan 🙂
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Thanks Nan!:)
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I like the way you eased the conflict into the story. Wonder what she’ll do about it?
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Nothing, I guess. 😦 Thanks for reading Patrick.
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She’s put up with him playing away for twenty years? Silly woman!
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Some women do. I’m not one of them, but I’ve known one or two.
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Very beautifully carved. I hope she gathers courage in the future and stands up to her own rescue.
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So do I. Thank you for dropping by.
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When he said, ‘Haven’t I alway?’ it became obvious he’s done this many times before. You’ve told a heartbreaking story very well, Sandra.
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Thanks Karen. 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
You are the master of the canal story. i can see you now, writing in the shade as you motor sedately along in the shade and sunlight. This story makes me want to write about a murder…. Well done, as ever.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thank you Doug. A little bit of shade would be welcome right now – 33 dec C. 😦
Thanks for reading.
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Her worry and anxiety is palpable. A scene I could easily picture in my mind. Nice!
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Thank you!
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Sandra, I love the way you opened this one. “She snapped the light on.” It snaps me to attention and yanks me in. I feel for this character, as we have all had a moment when the ground shifts. I’m glad mine hasn’t shifted in this direction, but I feel it in your writing. Wonderful, as always.
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Glad you liked it Dawn. 🙂
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Oh my… my heart was in my stomach for this one. Would twenty years of being the other woman ever be enough. Sigh. Such a good story, Sandra.
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And would his ‘always coming back’ be enough also. Not for me. Thanks for reading Helena.
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Great story and an interesting look at how some women accept their husband’s infidelity as part of the package
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Yes, it takes all kinds to make a world. Thanks for dropping by Siobhan.
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Very clever writing. It’s so tempting when you’ve only got 100 words to spell everything out, but so much more impressive when you leave some of it unsaid. I loved this.
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Thanks El. 🙂
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The title is a story in itself. Straight to the heart, indeed! Loved your take!
Greetings from Greece!
Maria (MM Jaye)
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Hope you’re having a lovely summer Maria! Thanks for reading.
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Sandra, that was truly awesome! I could see this as a Hitchcock TV episode. You really could have written for that series — or the movies.
You’re making me want to see if you have a movie script! 🙂
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I wrote a radio play once… but it never got anywhere. Thanks for reading Kent.
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killer last line, Sandra. so good. i personally don’t think i can stay married to someone like that for 20 years… but she has her reasons, i guess, so no judgement here. powerful story as always.
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We’re all different. Just as well too! 🙂 Thanks KZ.
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If my guy strays he can just stay gone.
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🙂
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great story.Its difficult for me to understand how some women can live with the fact that their men are cheating on them. Even I was wondering if it will be enough? ever?
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Yes, it’s hard to put yourself in her shoes, I agree. Thanks for reading.
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Very well-written, Sandra — as always. Shows the truth about a lot of lives out there. And unfortunately I know so many women who put up with second-rate lives just to have a husband. But I did love Patricia’s comment: “Some men get careless and underestimate us.” Would that were true for more women.
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Yes, there’s a note of optimism in what Patricia said. Thanks for reading Sandra.
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The age-old question–do you want to know or be in blissful ignorance. You provided the answer. Great story.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/creature-comforts/
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Thanks Maggie!
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The best part about this story, Sandra, is everything you leave unsaid.
All my best,
MG
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Thanks Marie Gail. I like to leave something for the imagination.
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So much story packed into only 100 words! Well done. Poor woman.
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Poor woman indeed! Thanks for reading.
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Welcome! 🙂
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I like the title… so much. A complete story that may be the life of more than one.
She chooses to stay and wait for him. It’s her decision.
May be not so imperfect for her, in spite of the last question.
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Very well written and much unsaid left to the reader’s imagination. Not easy to judge why some people stay where others would have left long ago.
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Such a wonderful titl to describe this story. I’m with Rochelle – I don’t know how she can put up with her husband’s behaviour. You leave so much unsaid and push us down one route. Of course, we have no idea what she gets up to while he’s away.
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