WIP Wednesday
(Early because I couldnt wait)
When people asked John why he and his wife divorced, he never knew a good answer to tell them. It never was for a lack of love, if anything it was the opposite. There was so much love there that when he was gone, the ache tripled, miles felt like lightyears. And when they started having kids, he was missing more than he saw, living vicariously through videos of his boy, River scoring his first goal in footie or their youngest, Willow singing through her ABC’s. It started to fray their relationship to the point that he felt like it was a kindness to divorce her.
“River has a footie game tonight. And make sure Willow wears her scarf and sweater. She’ll say she’s too hot, but she’s had strep 3 times this school year.” She says as she packs away peanut butter sandwiches in cartoon lunch boxes. John nods as he hears the kids wrestling their way down the stairs, shoving and fighting like recruits with too much energy. River stops briefly to press a kiss to his mother’s cheek, he’s nearly a foot taller than he was last fall and he’s already talking to John about enlisting at 18. The thought makes both of them sick. Willow hugs her mother’s neck before bounding after her brother where John’s SUV sits in the driveway.
“I’ll have them back in one piece on Sunday.” John says as he lingers near her, just to smell her perfume again, the same thing she’s worn since he met her back in grad school. He buys her a bottle every Christmas, and he keeps his own bottle for when the nights are long and cold. He sprays it on one of his old t-shirts as he fists his cock imagining it’s her and not him. “Got plans this weekend?”
“Got a hair appointment and a date.” She says as she dries her hands off with a dish towel turning to him, in the light from the kitchen window he can start to see the beginnings of gray hairs. His stomach twists at the mention of a date, they do this dance a lot. Dates, short time boyfriends/girlfriends, but nothing sticks. “Sounds pretentious but we’ll see.” She shrugs noncommittedly, as she touches John’s arm like old times and he nearly leans in, pressing his lips to her forehead and then he remembers. Divorced.
“Get those grays covered up, looks like the kids have aged you 10 years.” He says his eyes crinkling at the jest. She immediately retaliates by punching his arm, it doesn’t even sting, he just grins down at her. How even though she acts offended, the corners of her mouth are upturned with a grin. She goes in for a second jab and he grabs her, holding her still, she squirms but even she knows it’s useless to try and fight against him.
“Bastard.” She murmurs low as she looks up at him, he can feel the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Like the wrong move will send them colliding into one another like galaxies exploding in a big bang. The back door crashing open makes them fly apart like magnets, Willow’s panting voice breaking the moment.
“Sorry mum, forgot my jumper!” John looks back at her, but the moment is broken. He pats her back like you might an old comrade and grabs Willow’s jumper leaving behind the love of his life like an amputated limb.
