6 September 2012
Me and my husband browsed the aisles of the market for a new pasta. It was new recipe night and we didn't want the regular penne or linguini. Finally we settled upon a potato gnocchi and proceeded to the checkout lane. My husband noticed we forgot garlic bread, I felt his warm, strong hand leave mine as he assured me he would be right back. He left a sweet kiss upon my lips and walked down an aisle labeled bread. I heard his footsteps grow quieter as I turned to put our groceries on the conveyer belt to be scanned. I was looking into the basket to grab the last item when I heard the pasta sauce drop. The glass splintered in 100 pieces and bright red flecks of sauce stained the bottom of my pants. I quickly, jerked around to question the cashier but as I did I saw a look of horror on her face as she covered her ears and fell to her knees. I tried to see what direction this terror was that caused the frightened cashier to drop so unexpectedly. I saw nothing but more cashiers and customers with closed eyes, wide screaming mouths, and weakened knees falling to the floor. At first I didn't notice the silence. I spoke. No words emerged. I ran towards the bread aisle to find my husband. He was nowhere in sight. I ran up and down every aisle hoping that I would find him before the unseen and unheard terror did. At last I found my dear husband crouched on the floor, the garlic bread pressed into crumbs beneath the strength of his fist. He saw me and I ran to him as hot tears filled my eyes. I tried to find what was causing him pain. I took his sweet face in my hands and looked into his frantic eyes. He must have seen the same look in mine because he brought me close against his chest and held me there. I felt a cold presence rise behind me and my husband gripped me tighter. I felt the cold, boney hands wrap around my wrist. At that moment it all became clear. The silence. The unheard presence that frightened the cashier And everyone else. She came for me, the banshee. I hugged my husband for the last time and kissed his lips, salted from my tears. One hand in his and one with her. I held his hand and felt his warmth for the last time as I slipped away from his loving grasps, my eyes never leaving his. We said our goodbyes in silence but strong and heartfelt nonetheless. I grew colder and colder as the distance between my love and I grew. Then he was gone.
I awoke alone in my bed but was comforted by the faint sound of my husbands gentle snoring. Still shaken, I tip toed out my bedroom and found my love asleep on the couch with the tv volume low. I snuggled next to him in the non-existent space on our tiny couch, buried my face in his chest and fell asleep.
The Market • Opuss № I