Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Lost and Obliged

It was an ordinary night. As Charles left his house, he wondered if she would remember him this time. Who was he kidding? With his car keys jingling in his hand, he walked to the car, unlocked the door, sat in the driver's seat and paused for a few seconds before attempting to start the car. The same doubts were polluting his mind. Why did he bother visiting her every day? She seemed to be getting worse and he wasn't sure he could put up with one more violent outburst. Did anything he would do or say really matter at all anymore? He lifted his heavy hand and put the key into the ignition and started the car. He hoped it wouldn't start so he could use car trouble as an excuse for not visiting her. No such luck. The engine revved and he was obliged to drive 10 km to the hospital, two streets south of the highway and one traffic light east of the dead end street to visit the woman he married 43 years ago and the wife who no longer remembered him. He always timed the drive over even though he knew it took 20 minutes. Tonight, he arrived at the dead end street in 13 minutes and decided to turn on it. He parked the car, got out, looked in the direction of the hospital and starting walking the other way. He didn't know where he was going, nor did it matter. Nothing really mattered anymore. He was already lost without her.

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