We watched as she unwrapped him, one layer at a time, pausing to caress, assess, sometimes rationalise before moving steadfastly to the next layer.
There was a doggedness about her, transitioning slowly from an unwillingness to accept each revelation, through a resolve to overlook, and often culminating in self-recriminations.
She took longer than we had. At times we thought she may never get here. It was like watching our lives in slow motion.
Her destination was inevitable.
We made space for her; she duly arrived.
We commiserated, embraced, relaxed, and anticipated the next.
We’d not have long to wait.
This week’s picture is the remains of two straggly pine trees which used to overhang our house. Every season of the year brought new deposits of one kind or another, needles, fluff, cones, twigs. Neither of us like cutting down trees, but when the roots began to raise the paving stones on the terrace, heading for the garage, we had to bite the bullet. Watching its slow decay as it makes a home for all kinds of insect and fungal life has been sad but fascinating. Thanks to Rochelle for choosing the pic, and for leading the Friday Fictioneers.
castelsarrasin 
Mysterious and atmospheric. I’m not entirely sure who the sisters are, and what they’re doing, but I liked the feel of this very much
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Thanks for reading Neil.
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Dear Sandra,
I’m not sure who she’s unwrapping. But I’m completely engaged in the process and the emotions expressed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She’s unwrapping their former husband. It’s an ambiguous variation on the ex-wives club theme. Of course, the ex-wives may be dead…
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A strange tale. I couldn;t quite follow what exactly was happening but it had good feeling.
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Beautiful photo, and the sense of death leading to life is matched by your haunting story. I have so many possible interpretations in my mind, some more grizzly than others!
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It appears to have been a tad obscure. 🙂 It was a kind of ‘ex-wives club’ thing, the former wives watching the latest wife discovering just who or what she had married. Then it occurred to me the ex-wives may have all met a grizzly end… so your instinct was right.
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Oh gosh, now I’ve reread it with that in mind and it’s all even better! Your characters could easily relate to mine, so I should have seen it earlier. Thanks for the explanation, I loved revisiting this story.
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An intriguing tale indeed. I’m left wondering who he is and why he was wrapped.
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It was a metaphorical unwrapping, a voyage of discovery about a person who had dispatched her predecessors, either grimly or dispassionately through the courts.
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great photo. We’ve recently hauled decaying logs onto our own property for just this purpose. I love the story, too.
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There’s never a dull moment… thanks for reading.
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I’m lost as to what’s happening, but it’s intriguing to see such focus by females on a male — for good or ill 😉
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Sorry if it was obscure. The explanation is in an earlier response if you’re interested.
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I just read the above. I think leaving questions is good but glad I now know some of the answers. I was also thinking maybe this was a nurse in training in a war zone. Good story!
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I love this, Sandra. There are so many ways we can interpret it and you’ve created such an atmosphere.
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Thanks for reading, Dale. Glad you liked it.
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🙂
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What a fascinating take on the prompt – and what a beautiful description of how honeybees procreate!
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Thanks for reading Penny. 🙂
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i don’t know but somehow your story reminds me of the following lines from e.e. cummings:
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose
or if your wish be to close me,i and
my life will shut very beautifully,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
well, i’m just probably overthinking or something. 🙂
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I enjoyed that! Thank you for posting it.
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I feel a bit sorry for the bloke. It sounds like he’s being passed from “sister” to “sister”, getting dissected and then discarded 😮
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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I guess the unwrapping was virtual rather than her actually stripping him off with an audience.
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You guessed correctly. Thanks for reading.
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That sounds almost scary. Great story,
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Many thanks.
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it is almost like a birthing, and a realisation they are twins.
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Thanks for reading, James.
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The wives are now ghosts, waiting for the next one. Who is this awful man? Its a really powerful, intriguing piece.
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Glad you liked it. Thanks.
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Even your story has so many layers. I unwrapped a few after reading all the comments. Loved it.
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Thanks for reading, Sheena.
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Mysterious and beautiful piece. Well done.
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Many thanks.
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My initial thought was a mummy, then the metaphorical sorting through the layers, getting to know someone. When I read your explanation in the comments, I reread it, and it all made sense.
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Thanks for sticking with it. 🙂
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I saw a group of butterflies, escaping from their pupae, each to their own interpretation I guess
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Yes, that’s the best way to view it. Thanks for reading, Michael.
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A sad passing into a group I’m sure she never wished to be a part of, yet she found camaraderie and comfort there. A powerful description of the stages of grief at the death of a dream. Fascinating as always, Sandra!
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Many thanks for reading, Brenda.
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Oh, there is so much in this! Lovely! (and thank you for the photo for this week’s FF!)
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My pleasure. Thank you for reading.
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🙂
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So sad the trees had to be cut. We’ve done the same. After decades they grow too big and start causing issues to the pavement. I dread to think what root systems can do to a house foundation.
I read the story as a metaphor to a relationship. All that unwrapping.
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Yes, it’s a problem. A couple of headlong falls settled the matter for me. 🙂
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What a great metaphor. I read it as the ‘spirit’ of a shelter for abused women.
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I think that’s the best interpretation yet. I wish I’d had that in mind instead of flitting between the ex-wives/murdered wives club. Thank you!
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It seems that a relationship is being analysed, possibly that of a serial cheater and his victims. Either that or she is an embalmer who works with mummies. Possibly the former. Thanks for the photo of the week too.
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Thanks for reading.
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