Frozen In Shock

Allison stood frozen in shock, her head spinning in disbelief. She suddenly realized that she did not know this woman standing in front of her. Not only did she not know her, but the woman Allison thought she was had never really existed; or so she just discovered!

She’d fooled everyone.

Allison’s mind went back a decade to the day she first met Karen. The day her son, Paul, first introduced her to the family.

That day Karen gave a shy smile and a weak hello, while standing sheltered in Paul’s shadow. She seemed nice in a very bland manner; in fact, mild and meek, would be the perfect description.

Paul and Karen were College associates and drinking buddies. Allison wasn’t overly worried about their relationship as she understood Paul had a very serious crush on another college friend. A relief really because Karen’s personality was not a good match to Paul’s, who was a very strong and independent young man. He needed someone who was confident, with a strong inner strength, and Karen was not that woman.

Over the next few months, Allison began to see more and more of Karen as she meekly followed Paul everywhere he went, and she began to grow on everyone.

Her unassuming personality began to integrate with the family and Paul decided to give her a chance, even though his preference was for another woman, he decided to enter a romantic relationship with Karen.

Allison didn’t see the relationship going far but as they were both so young, there was no reason they couldn’t have a little fun for a while. No harm in that.

Allison was confident that time would work itself out.

The relationship between Paul and Karen cruised along with the usual ups and downs of any relationship; be that family, friend or romance. It was around the four-month mark that the cracks began to show.

Allison had raised Paul to be strongly independent and to stand on his own two feet, never taking rubbish from anyone. This did not bode well with Karen’s clinginess and their arguments would become quite heated and often toxic. It certainly wasn’t making either of them happy.

But they persisted.

Allison was dragged into the relationship with every argument. Karen would ring Allison and cry on her shoulder about all the things wrong with the relationship. These phone calls would occur at any time of the day or night, many made in the early hours of the morning, with no consideration of whether Allison was sleeping.

Allison soon became the mediator between the two and found herself on call 24/7.

It was soon affecting all involved and secretly, Allison was hoping the relationship would peter out, but in this she was to be disappointed. Paul had grown quite attached to the young woman.

Until a few days before Paul’s 21st birthday.

Allison had organized a celebratory weekend for the birthday boy, including Karen in the plans, and bankrolled the entire affair.

Karen, true to form, broke Paul’s heart a few days before his birthday and broke-off the relationship. It was the worst possible timing and put a real damper on the celebrations.

Allison tried to talk to Karen, but she was adamant she wanted nothing more to do with him. Paul was absolutely devastated.

Allison thought it may be a good thing in the long run but was extremely upset with Karen for her choice of timing.

The family celebrated Paul’s 21st birthday and a great weekend was had by all, despite the upheaval caused by Karen.

But much to Allison’s dismay, the couple decided to work things out a few weeks later and the roller-coaster ride recommenced.

Slowly the years passed, and things began to mellow out between the two. They were in a better place, had both matured and the relationship seemed to be on an even keel.

Allison had come to accept Karen and treated her as part of the family, including her in everything as if Karen was her own daughter. Karen would raid Allison’s wardrobe, ask her opinion on things, request advice at times and take Allison into her confidence.

Allison was ecstatic as she had always wanted a daughter.

Karen was not treated any differently than her two sons, Paul and Leon. Birthdays were celebrated; she was included as family at Christmas and Easter, taken on holidays and invited whenever Paul was invited.

Allison and Leon had come to accept Karen’s meek ways and to consider her needs where possible, standing up for her as they would any other family member. Karen had both as an ally if needed.

Somehow, nine years passed, and nobody could remember a time when Karen was not part of the family, so it was no surprise when Paul announced their pending engagement and upcoming wedding.

Two families would soon be joined, and everyone was happy with the union.

As the date of the wedding neared, small things began to change in Allison’s world, but that was to be expected, and she tried to work through the changes with grace and acceptance.

Allison noticed that she wasn’t involved in any of the planning leading up to the grand day. She was feeling a little forgotten to be honest and this was a hard pill to swallow. As a single mother, she was very close to her two sons and to be pushed to the side on such an important event was painful for her.

She bit her tongue; all she wanted was to see Paul happy and watched with pride as he made Karen his wife.

Sadly, this was the beginning of the end for Allison and Paul’s relationship, she just hadn’t been made aware of it yet.

For six months after the wedding, there was the pretense that all was well, and the family was still intact but small red flags began to raise their heads.

For example, it was Allison’s turn to host Christmas that first year after the wedding, but the married couple discussed this with Karen’s parents and made the decision that the couple would host Christmas at their newly purchased home. Allison was not included in the decision and was told at a later date, as an afterthought.

Not one to want to cause waves, Allison put a smile on her face and went along with the change, no matter how hurt she was over it all, especially as she wasn’t given any of the details and had to ask for the information. Details such as what time her and Leon should turn up on the day, what they should bring, what was the part they were to play in the day.

Allison and Leon suddenly found themselves as the outsiders looking in and it was an extremely painful experience, not to mention, terribly confusing.

Still, she bit her tongue and turned up at the Christmas celebrations but wasn’t she in for a surprise.

She watched that day as her son bowed to his new wife, watched him ask for permission for everything, looked to her for leadership and hid in her shadow.

And then the true colours of this meek and mild woman Allison had known for ten years, shone through brightly, much to Allison’s surprise.

Just as everyone was about to sit down to enjoy Christmas Lunch, Allison asked Karen a question and Karen snarled back an answer.

Allison stood frozen in shock, her head spinning in disbelief. She suddenly realized that she did not know this woman standing in front of her. Not only did she not know her, but the woman Allison thought she was had never really existed; or so she just discovered!

You’d think you would know the total ins and outs of someone after knowing them for ten years. Ten years of accepting Karen into her family, treating her as if she was her own flesh and blood.

Over the next few months, Allison discovered just how deceived she had been over the last decade.

Karen was not a meek and mild woman, no, she was the exact opposite. She had bided her time over the last decade until she was in the place and position she wanted to be. Secure in her new role as Paul’s wife, she shone brightly centerstage and made sure Allison and Leon understood she didn’t want them as part of her family, her life, as she felt they were beneath her.

And standing meekly beside his wife, Paul, allowed Karen to tear their family apart.

Allison and Leon have had very little contact from Paul and Karen since that Christmas Day. They have been excluded from future celebrations of importance; such as Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas, birthdays and the birth of their first son, who they never got to meet.

The young woman that Allison allowed into her heart never truly existed. She was a ghost of the evil incarnate that they innocently, or naively, welcomed into their lives.