Magpie 29

This is a prompt from Magpie Tales .

Hidden by trees, by shrub, by forrest is a little old cottage that sits peacefully in the summer sun. It's old style and the young owners that took refuge in it a few years back have no idea quite how old their isolated home is.

Inside stands a woman at her kitchen bench preparing some food. The only sound is that of the knife quickly tapping the chopping board. She's relaxed in the comfort of knowing no one shall find them out here. Her husband and herself that is. Deep down she knows one day they will be found. That someone will probably recognize them when they are on their occasional trip into town or they'll plan to cut down the rainforest that stretches for miles before getting to their cottage and discover them. The woman reaches for the lettuce and begins to cut it to pieces just as contently as before. She seems to be the most carefree woman in the world despite her circumstances. But then again, she's spent two years pushing the thoughts aside.

Magpie 28

As the warm water relaxes my muscles, my mind too falls into a state of relaxation. Words flood in and out, trying to chose the right ones. That cheating beast. How dare he chose her over me! 5 whole years of my life wasted. I'll be sure to mention that to him.

I wriggle my black toe nails that I painted the night before. He had been sitting there on the lounge, watching one of those crime shows we both loved. The woman had found her boyfriend cheating and he murdered her when she confronted him. Though there should be know faith left in my husband I know he would never have the guts to murder someone. He murdered my heart though. And mabey that's just why I raced home from the cafe where I saw him with that stupid slaggy prostitute of a woman. Her hair down to her bum and her skirt hardly covering it. He hadn't seen me catch him out and so I guess that was why deep down I was excited for his arrival. To accuse him, to yell, to cry. I was trying to flood the anger out of me, to have it poor down the drain with the rest of the dirtied water. But I'd want it back for me to put up a good aguement. He had broken my heart. There was no stopping my show.

"You dirty pig! 5 years down the drain! 5 years I could've spent with a better excuse for a man!" I said the words aloud, let them sit on my tongue. I closed my eyes and sunk down into the warm water. Bringing myself up, my freshly cut hair flowed behind me. I remember getting it cut the other day. Meeting up with him for lunch afterwards.

"You look absolutely beautiful!" he said. He had sounded sincere and I had to admit the new look did suit me and it was very sweet of his flattering but I wasn't all that confident. He always made me confident. I could look like an absolute wreck and he'd still proudly hold my hand. In the park, on the beach, out at dinner. Oh, I remember just the other night. We'd dressed up all fancy for our reservation at an expensive restaurant but they stuffed up and overbooked. We kind of just shrugged our shoulders and walked down to the beach. There we sat on the limestone wall, him in a smart suit, me in an expensive dress, laughing as the sun went down.

All the memories came flooding back and I didn't feel too good.

"It's just the bath, the hot water, going under," I convinced myself aloud. I wriggled my toes again. Ready to show him how heartbroken he'd left me. Excitement built up in me as I pulled the plug on the bath, the water flowed down the drain and I heard him come in the door.