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To conceal to ease my pain
To conceal
Trying to concentrate on the road ahead, thoughts are racing around my head. The years that I had tried to forget about Billy. The boy who smashed my heart into a thousand pieces, the night before I found out that my life was about to change forever. I never thought I would see him again. We don’t know in life what is about to happen. We should never say never.
Choosing to conceal the truth had not been easy but I couldn’t let Billy hurt me again. Over the years I’ve felt guilty hiding Charlie, but until today it hasn’t been a problem. When he asks about his dad, I say that I don’t know where he is. This has always been the truth until now.
Charlie’s eighteenth birthday party and the day that I had the greatest shock / surprise in eighteen years eight months. My choice to conceal our son from him had been up to me, I hadn’t expected Charlie to go and find him.
My husband Tim was out with his mates as usual, not interested in his step sons’ birthday party. Billy wants me to throw Tim out but I can’t. Surrounded with the merriment of trifle, ice cream, cake and party balloons, we were busy playing pin the tail on the donkey. As there was a knock at the door, Charlie jumped up,
“I’ll get it.”
I wondered who it was, all the guests were here. Standing with a scarf still over my eyes I heard,
“Hello Trish”
The voice
I hadn’t heard that voice in years. Ripping of the scarf, I screamed,
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The room went silent. All the guests shocked. My friend Melanie, ever protective , said
“Billy you’d better leave.”
“I’m not leaving, my son invited me.”
“Your son, you don’t know your son, he’s not your son.”
“Sorry Trish, the figures add up and unless you cheated on me, then he’s mine.”
I groaned, looking at everyone sitting around me. This was Charlie’s eighteenth, not the time for his parents to have an irrational slanging match.
“Come on Billy, garden, Mel can you watch the party.”
Melanie’s face dropped, I think she expected me to throw him out, not invite him for a chat.
“Err okay, will do”.
Billy
I had forgotten how much I once loved this man. Charlie looked a lot like him and over the years I had caught many glimpses of Billy. However, I never thought that Charlie would find him and he would turn up at my house.
“So, Trish, what you been up to, other than raising our son without telling me. I’ve missed eighteen years.
“You dumped me the day I found out I was pregnant.”
“Yes, because you weren’t into me. You were more interested in going drinking with Mel.”
I thought back to Melanie’s words eighteen years ago. Play hard to get Trish. He won’t be interested if you keep running to him. Come out with me, come on let’s have fun.
“Oh Billy, why the hell did you just end it? Of course, I wanted you but Melanie was my best friend. Billy I was just eighteen, same age as Charlie now.”
“Well in that case, I was eighteen too. Too young to be working at an adult relationship. Too young to be rational, I just thought you didn’t want me. I ended it before you dumped me”.
Charlie
“I was heartbroken when you finished it, then I found out about Charlie. Mel said not to tell you, said you wouldn’t be interested as we were finished. So, sorry but I continued to conceal him.”
“And what’s going on here?” my stomach turned over. There red faced was Tim, worse for wear after an afternoon of drinking.
“Trish, I tried to stop him,” said Mel.
“Out of my way you daft bint,” he pushed her roughly.
“Now hang on a minute, mate.”
“Billy, stop.”
“Oh great, this is the oh so fabulous Billy.”
My heart sank with embarrassment, this was not how I had imagined ever facing Billy again. Watching the two men now, Billy looked stunned and Tim like he wanted to hit him.
Tim
“Tim, Charlie invited Billy to his party. I didn’t know he was coming.”
“Hmmm likely story”.
As he raised his arm towards Billy, I stepped in the way. Unfortunately, he hadn’t foreseen me do this and I caught it straight in the face. Falling to the floor I could feel a bruise appearing on my jaw.
“Trish, that was meant for him not you”.
“That doesn’t matter. No need for violence. Billy is innocent here, he’s only known about Charlie for a few weeks and that’s only because Charlie found him”.
“Sorry, I saw red.”
“Tim, go and sober up. We are just talking.”
We watched him walking back to the house. Then Billy sat down sat to me.
“Trish, I do wish you had told me you were pregnant. Your decision to conceal him was wrong. I did love you back then, and hmm I’ve never stopped thinking about you.”
“Do you have other children?” I asked.
“Yes, Rachel, she’s eleven”.
“My Deborah is twelve”.
“Are you still with Rachel’s mum?”
“I was up till a few weeks back when I found out she is cheating with her boss.”
“So, you ended up with a cheat, and I married a man child?”
A smile
A smile spread across his handsome face. “We have wasted nearly nineteen years. I came here angry at you Trish and now I’m concerned and wanting to know you again.”
“I want to see you too, just wish you hadn’t dumped me then.”
“Sorry, well this was one time when you shouldn’t have listened to Melanie. You two always were together”.
“Yes, and we still are. She is a huge support to me, though she hates Tim.”
“For once, I think we might agree on something.”
I looked at him, smiling back at me. With an ache in my heart I know I still want Billy. I should never have tried to conceal Charlie.
Tim is now standing in the doorway. I know what I want but I don’t want to be hurt. I need to be strong and finally stand up to Tim. This is not going to be easy.
Written for Blog Battle – Conceal
For more, see Tea, sympathy and a need to fix things
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A case of universal germ warfare
Year 3020 – Germ warfare
Emma
The stars shone in the rich purple blanket. For centuries man has watched the sky. Many have asked if we are alone. Is the universe really infinite? Do we somehow at some point come back on ourselves? Could there be space craft living out there? If I could travel in a straight line across space at over 50000mph for 100 years what would I experience and see? The planet’s and the unseen universe. Would I still be travelling forward in a straight line? Future germ warfare had not been considered.
That night, as I looked up, I felt a sense of hope. Things were bad here on Earth. With people now taking holidays to the moon and exploring Mars and Hitania, a new germ warfare had been created. The scientists had struggled to find a cure as the diseases were alien. This was the day. One of the scientists, Mr Francis, had found a way to communicate with the Hitanians. A small unknown planet in the 21st Century.
Speaking a different language, deciphered by technology we needed answers. I’ve never been into space but my dad talks a lot about Hitania, he’s an Astronomer. All my life his stories have fascinated me and now he’s making history. Humans have been trapped indoors too long. I’ve read about the Corona virus in 2020 and the Spanish flu. They had nothing on the fear and torment that Hitanian pox has caused. The heartbreak and lives lost, we have lived, but if no cure it would take a miracle to keep the human race alive.
An agreement
Sitting in the meeting room listening to the Hitanian minister with live interpretation. I was in awe at how generous their race was. It was us that had insisted on connections with their world. After fighting, and us ignoring their protests we had been allowed us to visit.
The destruction that humans had done to Earth had started on Hitania and Mars. We had destroyed what was once unspoilt, and here the Minister was telling us how to cure our sick. Listening to what was being said, gasps and ssssching surrounded me. As usual humans had not heeded to warnings. Our world leaders had been so determined to legally visit other planets, they had ignored the obvious. Martians and Hitanians carry different illnesses to humans. Our bodies weren’t meant to fight each other illnesses. The discussion was now one of trading medication universe wide.
As the life changing trade deal was made this would change things forever.
Ten years later
As the harmony steadily dissipated, new rulers were now making different decisions. Dad, now in his late sixties had to decide whether to leave us for Hitania. Summoned by the new minister and unsure why, he felt he had no choice but to leave planet Earth.
That day as the tears flowed, I knew that I might never see him again. Saying goodbye, I knew I needed to put the need of the population first. My heart breaking as the rocket took off. I had my memories and knew I would next see him on the big screen if things go well.
David
Reaching Hitania, the sweat was pouring off me, having to meet face to face with the new minister. Green faced with horns and a voice that commanded those around him, I tried not to shake as we bowed in greeting. With an interpreting device fitted to our ears.
“Hello, Mr Khelon, nice to meet you”.
“Hello, Mr Hales, good journey?”
“Yes sir, but glad to finally be here”.
Putting his arm around my shoulder he said, “Come, come, sit down.”
Looking around, we weren’t alone. We were being watched by green scaly men. This was the strangest moment of my life. Armed with an alarm under my shirt with instructions to push if things go wrong.
A problem
“The reason I’ve called you here is because we need a new strategy. All humans must return to Earth and all alien beings need to go back to their respective planet. The side effects of the drugs have led to the races mixing”.
I wasn’t expecting this sudden turn in events.
“Our business here is universe travel. We need a different way.”
“Any suggestions? your humans are becoming ill and waking up with horns. This evolutionary change has raised too many questions”.
“Mr Khelon, I came to build relations not cut all ties.”
“Well sorry to disappoint, but this union ends here. We need you to speak to your people and take them home. This exchange is too dangerous. The Martians and Hitanians are suffering the side effects along with the Earthlings. The travelling doesn’t work. I will be sending a man to Earth to organise the return of all Hitanians and Martians.
“But sir, you know the bosses will not like it”.
He raised his voice, “I don’t care about your bosses, this union ends here. If it doesn’t, we are facing germ warfare.”
I wasn’t sure what to do. I pushed my alarm button.
Emma
Hearing the alarm. Rupert the commissioner opened the emergency transmission. On hearing that the business meeting was not going according to plan, I watched him put his head in his hands and rake through his hair. This could be the end of the agreement, they needed to think fast.
“This is bad but we’ve known about the germ problem for years.”
“Yes, but Rupert we have medicine.”
“Emma, you heard Mr Khelon, the medicine has caused side effects.”
“But the business.”
“There is no business, or are we telling your dad to prepare for war?”
“Of course, not”.
“Send David the get out message.”
Wiping sweat from my hands, I looked at those around me. A sea of shaking heads and frustration. Signing I sent the signal to agree to Mr Hank Khelon’s terms.
David
“If I agree to end the universe trade agreement, there is a financial problem here.”
“No, it’s a matter of germ warfare.” He then shouted, “get your Earthlings of our planet’s”.
“What about those that have moved to other planets permanently?”
“They will all have to leave.”
I knew there was no way round this, not today. Earth will lose millions of pounds. There must be another way, but today we had to listen to the green horned man sat opposite me. It was time to get everyone back to their own planet’s and for now end the travel. I hope in the future there is a way to restart it, but now I just wanted to see my daughter, Emma. For now, there seemed no other option, universal germ warfare was not worth entertaining. However, what about the mixed race – Hitanian / Martian Earthlings? They were going to be a bigger problem.
Written for Writers Unite! photo prompt
For more see, A plan and a model for murder – Written for Writers Unite
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A sad ending, hospital and questions
A trap
They knew it was a trap when they received the call. The trip to the pub had meant an argument. Rosie and Freddie had worked through their problems, but he was never happy to visit her place of work. Not going would have caused issues as the man demanded that Freddie turned up. She hadn’t expected the scene to be as nasty or to end in hospital.
Why would someone get so angry at their local pub? Holding her father hostage was a bit extreme and bringing their daughter into it heightened their captors entertainment. She had no money to offer, all she could do was plead.
Rosie
We didn’t expect things to be as bad. When the paramedics bought Rosie out on a stretcher, I felt sick. She was a young mum and where was Freddie? Events had moved fast and the car was still warm. From a difficult holiday to seeing our friend taken to hospital, could this day get any worse?
This was not the time to be discussing work. Seeing the landlady walk out crying with James the landlord holding her up, surely Rosie would be alright. It was then we saw another stretcher with a black body bag. There was a crime here that had only just begun. Was the hit meant for just Freddie? He had always had a temper but being murdered was something else. Wondering where their little boy was, I hoped he was with a friend. Not fair for him to lose his dad, you could see that they loved each other dearly.
Having seen things so bad for Rosie all I wanted to do now was have a soak in a long bath. I decided there was enough visitors at the hospital. They didn’t need us rolling up.
“Come on Freda, let’s go home. We’ve seen enough here.”
Rex started barking, he wanted to go home too.
“Freda, I’m sorry about this weekend, life is short, we never know when the end might happen.”
“Yes, I hope Rosie is okay, their poor family, I wonder what Freddie had done.”
“Maybe we’ll find out soon enough.”
Time to relax
A few hours later, I was finally alone. After a long warm bubble bath, I needed chocolate, tea and rest. I couldn’t stop thinking about Freddie. Him and Rosie had their problems but they had worked through them. Caught In the comfort of Cadbury’s I jumped as my mobile rang.
“Hi Mark.”
“Ruby, I saw the news.”
“Freddie is dead.”
“What about his family?”
“Rosie is in hospital, I’m going to pop in tomorrow. Till then I’m enjoying tea and chocolate”.
“Ruby, please don’t get involved, I don’t want you killed as well”.
“Freddie had a temper, he must have upset someone.”
“Well be careful, I love you Ruby.”
“Mark I’ll be okay, I love you too. Right now I’m just worried about Rosie and I need to rest. It’s been a difficult weekend.”
“I’ll let you sleep, Ruby.”
“Okay will talk tomorrow, bye.”
Hospital
Next morning, we went on our hospital visit. Following the old cliche we took her some grapes. Why do people take patients grapes? Do they have magical healing powers?
Seeing Rosie, I was relieved to see her awake.
“Ruby, have you seen Freddie?”
“Oh Rosie.”
I took her left hand, and tried to comfort her. Whilst Freda rubbed her right arm.
“Rosie, Freddie is dead”
From the stunned look on her face, it was obvious that she had been knocked out early in the fight. She hadn’t got a clue what he had been involved in, and now I really wanted to know.
For more see, Friendship and end of the holiday part 14, this is part 15
Written for Grammys Grid first sentence prompt – They knew it was a trap when…
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