Todd finishes the last verse just before breaking into a coughing fit. It's a painful sound, raw and desperate, serving no purpose but to remind the body that something is wrong.
I put my hand on his shoulder and can feel his body shudder with the rapid tiny breaths he's taking.
I take a deep breath, hoping the sound will calm him, or at least remind him on some subconscious level how to breathe normally.
"That was beautiful," I say. "But I...I don't think the songs are helping."
His head turns and he fixes me with inconsolable red eyes, long past tears. His expression pleads with me to take back what I've said, but I can't.
Todd turns away, shrugging off my hand.
"If she meant that much to you," I say, "you shouldn't have left her."
He lets out a soft raspy noise that might be words, but I can't be sure.
"You can't just leave on a two week cruise and not expect consequences," I say. "Begonias need to be watered regularly."
"GET OUT!" he hisses, the end of it coming out in a gurgle, like he's ruptured something.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"I said get out," he whispers, still cradling the dead houseplant in his arms.
As I walk out the front door, I hazard a glance back. Todd has placed the desiccated plant on the window sill and is lowering himself to one knee, like he's about to propose marriage. I shut his door and descend the steps from his apartment in silence.
My car is parked under his second floor window, and walking to it I can hear him singing again to his dead plant. He's opened the window and the rough sound of his vocal cords being rhythmically flayed pours out. I open my car door and stare up, suddenly moved at Todd's hopeless love.
"What is that?" I hear someone say behind me. I turn to see an elderly woman staring at Todd's open window. She is holding a leash with an unkempt terrier on the other end who appears to be desperate to move on.
"I Will...Always Love You," I say to the woman, and am shocked to find my voice choked with emotion.
Collapsing into the car seat, I look back at the woman, who is now staring at me. "The Whitney Houston version," I say, shutting the door, still looking at her through the window glass. "The Whitney Houston version," I say again, but I know she can't hear me.
I put my hand on his shoulder and can feel his body shudder with the rapid tiny breaths he's taking.
I take a deep breath, hoping the sound will calm him, or at least remind him on some subconscious level how to breathe normally.
"That was beautiful," I say. "But I...I don't think the songs are helping."
His head turns and he fixes me with inconsolable red eyes, long past tears. His expression pleads with me to take back what I've said, but I can't.
Todd turns away, shrugging off my hand.
"If she meant that much to you," I say, "you shouldn't have left her."
He lets out a soft raspy noise that might be words, but I can't be sure.
"You can't just leave on a two week cruise and not expect consequences," I say. "Begonias need to be watered regularly."
"GET OUT!" he hisses, the end of it coming out in a gurgle, like he's ruptured something.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"I said get out," he whispers, still cradling the dead houseplant in his arms.
As I walk out the front door, I hazard a glance back. Todd has placed the desiccated plant on the window sill and is lowering himself to one knee, like he's about to propose marriage. I shut his door and descend the steps from his apartment in silence.
My car is parked under his second floor window, and walking to it I can hear him singing again to his dead plant. He's opened the window and the rough sound of his vocal cords being rhythmically flayed pours out. I open my car door and stare up, suddenly moved at Todd's hopeless love.
"What is that?" I hear someone say behind me. I turn to see an elderly woman staring at Todd's open window. She is holding a leash with an unkempt terrier on the other end who appears to be desperate to move on.
"I Will...Always Love You," I say to the woman, and am shocked to find my voice choked with emotion.
Collapsing into the car seat, I look back at the woman, who is now staring at me. "The Whitney Houston version," I say, shutting the door, still looking at her through the window glass. "The Whitney Houston version," I say again, but I know she can't hear me.
Just when you think they can't get any better...
Posted by: Liz | October 08, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Serious.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | October 09, 2007 at 06:02 PM
That was... astounding, I think, is the the word I'm looking for. Awesome.
Posted by: flyyhigh | October 10, 2007 at 04:30 AM
If only it had been the Dolly Parton rendition!
Posted by: Gretchen | October 10, 2007 at 09:57 PM
Fantastic.
You should write a book. :D
Posted by: maribeth_kayla | October 13, 2007 at 12:50 PM
That is really funny! lol Its kind of weird though!
I LOVE YOUR WIFES BOOKS
Posted by: charlie | October 13, 2007 at 12:52 PM
*sobbing* The poor begonia!
Posted by: Q | October 16, 2007 at 03:51 PM
M_K, didn't you know? He did. It comes out Fall 2008 ;
Same goes for you charlie.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | October 16, 2007 at 07:30 PM