Ann Bancroft’s deftly executed second entry into our Defying Moments contest – a brief, bittersweet byte of contemporary romance – is guaranteed to deliver a fiberoptic surge of self-recognition. I dare you not to smile when you get the twist.
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Topic: The Day I Left Him
The Day I Left Him
His was the first face I’d see each morning. Our goodnights were silent. No word need be exchanged, just a look… A sweet, faint whisper and then a sound in my heart like a chime. My eyes close and I sleep, content.
Oh, if only we could spend all of our days together! I long to see his many moods, now serious, bent over a desk, now playful, gazing at the sea, now looking straight and lovingly into my eyes.
Work intervenes. The dull necessities of life pull me away and yet I cannot resist the sneaking back, the rushing away and toward him for even one glance, one sly or clever exchange, one brief encounter that says, “we get each other,” here, there, in the air, we connect.
We draw close to one another not only in this urgent, private way, but in the thousands of places our minds spark and fuse with a universe of others. I am standing in a crowd, and there he is! His passion rages and ignites my own.
But, now, who is this? Who is she, now hanging on his every word, elbowing in front of me in this gathering of the like-minded, calling his name?
I see they have attended a concert. A friend, breaking the news, shows me a photo of the two of them and now I shake. How could he? Before we’d even met? After liking all my links?
Today, I begin the journey of ending my pain. “Remove from Friends,” it says. “Are you sure?”
I push the button. Look up from my computer. Let life intervene.
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The way we meet may have changed, but the way we behave never will.
These days, that seems to be the extent of our goodbyes–a few clicks here and there. I guess emotions travel through internet lines too =) I would know
As I read through your piece, I tried to figure out what on earth was going on. Was she possibly speaking to a husband? Perhaps even a son (until I saw the word “passion”)? Ah, a new love interest. But what's that? A friend? A friend or a “friend”? No more questions asked, that's it for this digital tango.
::click, click::
Rachel
Excellent work, I like rereading it and finding the clues that lead up to the revelation. Ah the internet, the latest way to break a heart.
Diane Cresswell
Ann: beautifully written…I have found that sometimes in order to end the pain, one must release the control button and really let life intervene. Sometimes we are 'ships passing' in the night and we move on.
Diane
AnnBan
Thanks, Rachel. I'm glad you got it. Yes, the internet offers endless opportunities for fantasy and obsession, when real life just won't do!
Brian_Harrison
Ladies, I just “liked” all the comments that you four lovely dames have brilliantly posted. So…you can look at me and let all the internet crushes begin in this virtual fantasy world. (And yes, that is a unicorn in the picture with me.)
Ohh…and very nice work. Very fun with the twist.
http://www.awordwithyoupress.com/ Thornton Sully
In this internet world, history deletes itself. Sad Tale.
Peggy R. Dobbs
Ann, I wondered why we hadn't heard from you lately but when you return, you return, with a “100 paper”, as my husband use to tell our kids. “Make a 100 paper, today!” he'd say.
I had to read it the second time before I got it, but when I did, it was like getting hit in the stomach. First, I was embarrassed that I didn't get it the first time around and second, the idea, the choice of words used in such a way to deceive the reader, or at least us dumb ones like myself, made me aware of how many heart sick people there are who live their lives vicariously through cyber space. This was one of the best stories I have read since I joined up with this merry band of “Cyber Gypsies”. Great work!
AnnBan
Thank you so much, Peggy. You are completely wrong about the “dumb” part — I've met few people who “get it” as well as you when it comes to the heart of life. Yes, that's what fascinates me about the internet — the ability to make real and life-enhancing connections on the one hand (you! I never would have 'met' you!) and also the fact that it can be used to substitute for, rather than enhance, our social circles. Did you see the NYT piece on this subject last Monday? A family addicted to its gadgets… I'll am so grateful for all that we can do on cyberspace and for the connections I've made this way. But sometimes you just gotta unplug for a bit!
