Evan wiped away a tear, the wetness and the action long unfamiliar. “I didn’t know. How could we have been so wrong?”
Maggie sighed, action familiar, constant over the years. “Because we were stupid. We wanted to blame her and we did. It was easier than blaming ourselves.”
Evan took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, haltingly, tiny repercussions among the silent cobwebs. “We have to tell the rest of the family.”
Maggie stiffened. “No!” Then relaxed. “Not everyone. Not yet. Think of the things we’ve done, what we’ve said. Things that are now lies, things that cannot be undone. We must take our time.”
“But what about her children? Surely they have the right to know. It could give them some peace.”
Maggie sighed again, another bead in her endless, twisted rosary. “And what peace will that be? How can there be peace learning that the person you hated did not do what made you hate them?”
“I would think there would be a lot of relief. After all these years.”
“Really, Evan? The story that we’ve told those children, the story they have been raised on, is a deception. A serious deception. Any time you rip away what someone has always believed in all their lives, there is going to be fallout. Even if the intentions are good. Trust is the hardest thing to get back once you lose it.”
Evan turned to look at his sister, now his only. “But we will tell them. And someday they will understand what we did.”
Maggie nodded, another bead touched. “Yes. And maybe.”
A crow, dark and glistening, flew over their heads, crossing the tiny graveyard and quickly disappearing.
The cobwebs rippled on the modest headstone.
Note: This is the second in a series of stories inspired by one of Claudette’s posts involving her gorgeous photography. More to come, eventually…
Categories: Reflections
Bonnywood Manor 
Not what I’ve come to expect from your writing Brian but this was really, really good and I’m looking forward to reading more :O) xx
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Oh, this side of me is always there, lurking in the wings, midnight scribblings. I’ve shared some of this in the past, but I really should do more…
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Have at it! I seem to like pretty much everything that you write 😊 cxx
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The change in tone was a shock! Beautifully written.
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Thanks, Nick. Sometimes I have to put the humor aside and share some other things…
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So fitting. I went to a funeral today for a friend who was rather larger than life.
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Ah, the funerals we encounter at our age. Nothing really prepares us for that…
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Interesting story, thought provoking. Truth is always better than lies but not always easy to reveal or to hear.
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Truth should always win, but oh what a struggle…
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Oh Wow Brian, I truly love the way this is written. I got little bursts of imagery through your phrasing and words, bit like I was actually that crow, listening in. It’s very real, very sad, and very human. Extremely well done my friend.
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I agree, Claudette. I felt like I was the crow, too, listening to this bit of conversation.
Nicely done, Brian.
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Thank you, Claudette. I trust that I am doing well with your photos, as they inspire me so…
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I am more that very, very happy with how you are treating them 🙂 Loving how you are value adding to them.
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You are an amazingly, wonderfully, versatile writer. I’d add more adverbs but I’m afraid of getting shot.
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We embrace all adverbs equally here at Bonnywood, as well as heart-warming comments such as yours…
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Wow! I think this is pretty great. 😊 The pacing is the best part – the development of suspense and the gradual unmasking of the characters. I would love to read some of this! 🙂
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… some MORE of this. There’s nothing better for the pacing than leaving a word out. 😉
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Thanks, Lynette. You can trust that there will be more of these pieces, as Claudette keeps composing wonderful photos and I keep searching for inspiration…
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