In An Instant

How life can change oh so quickly

I sat quietly watching her. She drank coffee whilst flicking through a gossipy magazine, pausing briefly every now and again to read a few lines or study a photo. I smiled to myself remembering our meeting, the pair of us worse for wear, booze, in a crowded Tenerife bar. We pretty much spent the whole of the next week together, drinking, laughing, loving.
When back in the UK 400 miles separated us , Scotland her home, England mine. As promised, a letter, the first of many written by, lay waiting on her return from holiday (she had stayed on for an extra week ). I told her over and over how much I loved her, missed her, needed her, and that one day we would be married. That was June 1991.
October 1991 she moved down to be at my side. We married in October 1993.
Our daughter was born in November 2000, her mother's double. Beautiful, funny, clever, a most warm, generous human being, the Apple, orchard of my eye. Life has been nothing but great....25years of bliss.

" Have you any regrets " she once asked me, meaning of our life together.

" Only that we didn't meet earlier."

The doorbell rang. She placed the magazine on the cushion beside her.

" Mrs Jacky Stevenson " asked the young policeman.

" Yes, is there something wrong ? "

" Can we come inside Jacky" asked the young WPC.

As I left, she sat in stunned silence.......

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed. This is very much true to my life (apart from my demise.... obviously)

Reviews

[NickAbo]

That was quite a nice little story, I enjoyed it. Guess Discover isn't half bad.

[Gee]

Cheers Nick

[Davidgeo]

25 years of bliss indeed.

"only that we didn't meet earlier"

Lucky you.

[Gee]

So lucky.
Thank you David

[Rosa S]

The story was in the first person so I didn't understand the last 5 rows!
The last line made no sense at all (Until I saw your lines underneath!) but then I am a literal person who takes what I see/hear as it is. So now we need some more to carry it on please!

[Gee]

I'm far to lazy for that. Thank you

[Rosa S]

LOL! No, you cannot be! I want to know the WHOLE story!! ;-)

[Gee]

I'm a mid 50's stubborn old shite.....sorry :)

[Rosa S]

So am I - just female version! Nah, not to worry I have my own stories to write now! Concentration time! Coffee(tick), water(tick), fruit(tick), heating on(tick). Now is the time!

[Colleen H]

I really enjoyed this piece! I read it over and over enjoying each moment. so moving.

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Mariah Renae]

Drew me in from the beginning. The ending lost me a bit before I read your authors note. I didn't get that the narrator had died, I just knew someone had died. Other than that well done.

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Autumn]

This is so cute along with well written. It's like the characters are directly in front of me. The ending also has a wonderful but heart-wrenching twist

[AmateurWriter01]

This was good. Even though it was quite short it felt like a full blown book. I read this a few times.

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Karen Redburn]

The flow was great, characters realistic. Is this the beginning of a longer story? I would certainly read on!

[Gee]

I'm far to lazy to try and write a book. Thank you

[Martha K.]

I really liked how stunned I was at the ending and how I had to read it again. I thought I knew what it was about until I saw the tag of death then read the comments. My interpretation was completely different.

[Gee]

Thank you Martha

[S. Elizabeth]

I enjoy the unknowingness of the end, however, I would like to know more of the moment. Enhance the dialogue of the story with the -show, don't tell- method.
Like, how did she set the magazine down? what was the tone of the officer? what was her tone when she asked what is wrong? what prompted you to leave and why?

[Gee]

They had come to tell her I was dead.....thank you

[S. Elizabeth]

I would have never concluded that

[Gee]

Hmmm, don't know whether that is good or bad

[S. Elizabeth]

Where do you see, in your writing, that draws the reader to that conclusion?
(I'm not trying to be critical, but it's a good story, so I would like to help you)

[Gee]

To be honest I write quickly, post, then leave it to the reader. Most of the other reviewers managed to conclude that I was dead..