I thought I knew him but, in retrospect, I’m not sure what I thought I knew.
We’d slotted comfortably together like a jigsaw, albeit with some pieces now slightly worn at the edges – no longer the perfect fit, perhaps. Sufficient though for the world to see the whole picture… more or less.
Of course, now that the tabloids, Twitterati and keyboard warriors have had their day, it’s clear the image on the lid didn’t even begin to resemble the contents.
And whoever it was I’d known… well, he slipped out the door years ago, shattering it as he left.
The days are getting infinitesimally longer, yay! Bought my first daffodils yesterday, and though the Beast from the East is being threatened on an almost daily basis, the bluebells, crocus and tulips in my garden are throwing caution to the winds! Thanks once again to Rochelle for leading the Friday Fictioneers out towards the longer days.
I love – and recognise – ‘slightly worn at the edges’.
As deftly created as ever.
I read, and try to learn.
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Thanks for reading, CE. Our mutual friend RW-F has recently got me hooked onto on-line jig-saw puzzles, so she’s to blame for the analogy this week. Better than Angry Birds though…
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I love this, Sandra. It’s so clever, with so many threads leading outwards
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Thanks, Neil. Glad you liked it.
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He left leaving a shattered door and sad heart behind…
I am sure she still misses him.
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Well, the person she thought he was. Thanks for reading Anita.
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Dear Sandra,
This one stings. Twitterati? I love that. So many of them these days are getting caught with their pants down, aren’t they? So well done. Your muse is at the top of her game today.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Indeed they are. Many a noble career has ended this way. And the muse is being much more co-operative than usual at the start of this year. Let’s hope she hangs around for a while.
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Great ending on this. I was thinking about Marcia Brady never again washing the hand that Davy Jones shook and wondering if the narrator left the smashed door as a memento mori.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Beautifully done, Sandra.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan.
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This was so well crafted, Sandra. I am in awe of your ability to create such fabulous stories out of broken pieces.
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Terrific photo, Dale. I see you’re not telling how it happened… 😉
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Thanks, Sandra. Son + birthday gathering + booze + playful wrestling = ummm, Mom, something is broken
Grand total = Furious and heart-broken Mom
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This was beautifully crafted, as the others too have mentioned. I am a huge fan of writing, especially your ability to weave subtleties where one thought none existed. Simply outstanding, Sandra.
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Thank you so much, Neel. I appreciate your comments.
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Sandra, I really loved this reflective piece and there are so many great phrases throughout. My favourites were : “We’d slotted comfortably together like a jigsaw, albeit with some pieces now slightly worn at the edges” and the last line.
I have been having some similar reflections in a post I wrote today about visiting the village of Bangalow, just inland from Byron Bay in Northern NSW. I’ve been going there at least once a year for almost 20 years and yet I saw it in a new light this time and picked up on more of its historical details, probably due to my blog writing. I questioned that sense of place and how well we know even where we live: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2019/01/16/byron-bay-continued-walking-through-bangalows-past/
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Rowena. I enjoyed your piece.
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Really excellent in depicting the duplicity of others, and the effects of finally discovering the non-attractive side of it.
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Thanks, Stu.
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Twitterati and keyboard warriors. Wonderful. In real English, a “twit” is a silly person, having to common sense and being worth very little. I think it applies.
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I think this is a dangerous phenomenon, but we’re stuck with it now.
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Clever analogy, Sandra, and a neat representation of what happens in many relationships. Worn at the edges – no longer fit. Yes.
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Thanks, Liz.
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I’m loving the different takes on this photo – kudos!
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I think you’ll enjoy participating in Friday Fictioneers, Jennifer.
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For me jigsaw season is Christmas, but I have never seen an online one. Did she (or he) modify her opinion of him because of what she read? The sources she referred to seem dubious to say the least. I hope they were not the cause of her relationship schism, but either way another quality offering from you Sandra. I hope you are enjoying this thoroughly pleasant Dorset Winter as much as I am.here in Christchurch. 🙂
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I’m totally hooked now, I’m afraid. Whenever someone else is ‘outed’ for serial misconduct, I always think of the poor wife/partner who has to deal not only with the fact of the misconduct, but the surrounding publicity. And I’m loving winter in Dorset, though being so close to the coast I’m not getting the wintry photo shoots I’m used to. Still, I’ll live with that! 🙂
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It’s good he’s out of her life. Hopefully, her shattered pieces will mend. A beautifully written poignant story, as always!
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Thanks for reading, Brenda.
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The jigsaw symbolism is expertly drawn. Well done as always Sandra.
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Thanks, Iain.
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Great imagery Sandra, I am jealous.
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I’ve been impressed at recent developments in your own style, Michael. Thanks for reading.
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You bring the imagery off the page so well in this. Perfectly crafted.
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Thanks, Carol.
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So much to love here, as always. Love Twitterati! Excellent!
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Thanks, Sascha. Glad you liked it.
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Another brilliant one, Sandra. Very clever and original. Loved it.
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Thank you! My muse has put in an appearance and I can only hope it hangs around for a while.
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You told us so much in just a few well-crafted sentencces – another lesson in word economy!
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Many thanks, Keith.
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Leaving shards of many kinds.
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Indeed. Thanks for reading, Violet.
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Very nice take on the shattered door. I’m going to have to remember the “image on the lid” quote. And I loved “Twitterati” 🙂
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I thought everyone knew that term. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Keyboard warriers is what cracked me up. The story sounds oddly familiar with all the revelations about people we thought we knew. Wonderful writing, as always.
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Thank you! I had in mind some of the poor wives of these people we, like they, thought we knew.
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relationships aren’t immune to wear and tear like a car. without regular maintenance, they stop working right if at all.
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Very true.
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Love the flavor of this spicy little tale.
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Thank you!
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Nice take and very well done. Yes, sometimes things are worn around the edges … sometimes there’s more that is hidden and remains unseen … (and shatters as it leaves) … Well done!
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Many thanks.
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What a regretful look in the rearview mirror. Like the plays a glass and mirrors. Hope she does not remain shattered.
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I’m sure all these women find the resilience to rebuild their lives. Thanks for reading.
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So obscure and yet I can somehow relate.
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Glad it worked for you, Dawn.
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There’s nothing I can add to the beautiful comments that already have been posted in response to an extremely well-crafted story. I am honing my writing and I am grateful to be able to interact with talented writers such as yourself. There’s a great deal for me to learn from wordsmiths like you.
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You’re very kind, Piyali. And you’re doing just fine from what I’ve read.
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Thank you. Your comment made my day 🙂
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The violence of the door shattering shows is other side and confirms she’s best off without him. People are so adept at hiding certain traits but their guard always drops over time
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So true.
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Slightly worn at the edges……. I remember playing the jigsaw puzzles with my kid years ago .
He left shattering the glass door and the door to her heart. Seems she hasn’t yet replaced the splintered pane.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/01/door.html
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I think she’ll survive – thanks for reading.
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That’s what happens to most relationships after a certain no of years.. It frays and slips through our fingers.. Good description Sandra
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If we don’t keep honing them, I’m afraid they do. Thanks for reading.
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the undercurrents always leave a pain
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And he won’t be back to fix it.I like how you compare relationships with jigsaw pieces.
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Good one. I particularly like the ending – ‘whoever it was i’d known’ – chilling.
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A well-crafted, poignant tale. The metaphor of the jigsaw puzzle is very effective.
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Alas this happens way to often…. love the title and I could see Bergman there in your tale.
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Masterful storytelling, Sandra! Do we ever really know someone? Beautifully reflective piece on how we keep up the outward pretence, when in reality it no longer exists.
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Damn those tabloid. I wonder what the picture on the packaging would be for me?
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Loving the metaphors of a shattered life, of a destroyed relationships, with hardly anything left to recognise. Nicely done, Sandra
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P.S I genuinely wrote my story and picked the title before reading yours – we were both inspired by that same phrase. Sorry!
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