...forever.
But these are her tough times now as her own health fails. And she must be feeling the frustrations as I did back then. But all I can do is to look on... and listen. I'm a good listener, but it's too late for me to talk. She knows I’m here with her… after all she talks to me... and I am listening, although everyone else tells her no. I am here for her, because she still needs me, forever. I promised to love her until death us do part, and while she’s alive, then I will always be here.
- Category: True Stories Told As Fiction
10 comments add one below
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Christopher over 5 years ago
Really touching, Neville. It was nice seeing the story from both sides, as tragic as the story is.
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Peter Henderson over 5 years ago
Life is like a battery, it doesn't work unless you have a positive and negative side.
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Thanks Christopher and Peter. Nice comments.
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Thank you very much Drew. It was written from the heart and is a drabblified version of a piece (or in fact a couple of pieces) I wrote for our new local writing group. When my wife read it she was in tears. When I dared to show her the final postscript drabble an hour ago she was in tears. I was in tears as I typed them and was a bit choked when I read them to the writer’s group. My niece read them on the train back to London and she reports that she was in tears all the way...
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
...Of course, we all knew the couple involved really well and the old lady’s monologue is true and he husband’s is firmly rooted in the truth. I guess that’s why it has such power to move us all. Thanks so much for reading and your wonderful comments. I was sure the series had passed you by, so no apologies for the nudge!
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
It has surprised me how upset I have been myself. I think my grief is for my wife, who, having been so dominated by her mother when she met me (an unsuitable suitor) and how over the years she, who in her quiet way is also a force to be reckoned with (just ask my kids!) has managed to become very much her own person, starting by insisting that she would marry me (a good call!).... at which point the battle lines were drawn... But I forgive, and so, it seems, did the old lady! In the end I was ‘the only one who really understood her’!
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
That’s an interesting idea Drew. I might well look at that in the New Year - although Fedelta needs some urgent attention! I had wondered if the two monologues might make a short radio episode, but at only 1400 words it wouldn’t naturally fit into a time segment. As a short story it might fit in one of those 15 minute Radio 4 slots... or am I getting too ambitious perhaps? I do record some of my stories for my daughter, who’s partially sighted and many of them seem to be 15 minutes or thereabouts and put them on Dropbox for her. I might try it out, if I don’t get too choked up reading it...
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
...although Mrs H would no doubt criticise me for delivering her mum’s bit despite not being a woman. Might do it anyway though and not tell her...
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Thanks Drew. Mrs H would never do anything like recording stuff... but my daughter, who is really confident (but denies it strenuously) might be up for it as we fuel each other’s confidence. Her only limitation might be her partial sightedness though... but I will ask and it wouldn’t upset her.
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Asked my daughter tonight as I drove her + partner to a gig (he’s lead guitarist in a local rock band). She said “I’ll give it a go!” I expected no less! 🎸
