Author Bio: During the last five years I have taught English Language Learners and taken multiple courses at Gotham Writers. I'm a writer, an artist, a teacher, Master Educator, mother of two daughters, and a member of SCBWI. My illustrative works have been featured in The Syndrome Magazine, Wingless Dreamer, Alchemy Literary Magazine, Flying Ketchup Press, and Beyond Words Literary Magazine. And because you asked...My favorite kind of pop is Coke because I'm a purist and I like a drink that can get rid of car rust. :)
MARRIAGE
WHITNEY WEISENBERG
I rush out the door
in the car
through the house
I am a hurricane.
When the girls are at school
and Ben is at work
and it’s just me
I feel the quiet.
It swallows me whole.
This house that we decorated together
no longer feels “charming”
it isn’t the shelter of protection we designed.
I go to Bee’s
I bring soup that she will probably pour down the drain
after it sits untouched.
I clean the dishes
put her clothes in the laundry.
I rush out the door
in the car—
I pick up the girls
I drop them off
at dance
soccer
ice skating.
I make small talk and appointments.
Sometimes I’m surprised that I can smile so widely
that I can convince everyone
that my entire world hasn’t changed.
That night
I make him show me the other emails
the ones I didn’t find
he does what I say
but he asks, “How is this helping?”
I don’t respond
because I don’t know.