The Dead Husband
A Story Every Day in 2024 March 19th 79/366
She was walking to work when she saw him. Her dead husband. He was just coming out of the supermarket and he was carrying a bottle of wine and a bunch of bananas.
What do you do in this instance? Do you go up to him, with your shock and your disbelief? Or do you stand and stare, watching him, observing him like he's a rare creature on a nature documentary, with curiosity at his unexpected appearance?
For Louise, it was the latter. She was frozen, framed in the moment; a statue on the pavement of pedestrians, all going about their daily business, unaware of the dart that had just been fired into the heart of her, the wife gazing at her dead husband grocery shopping.
*
He was coming out of the supermarket with a bottle of wine and a bunch bananas when he saw her. Louise. There was no way that she hadn't spotted him although he quickly looked away and acted nonchalant but he knew that it was too late to turn.
Whilst he was not looking directly at her, he could sense her stillness in his peripheral vision and his heart was pounding as he realised that two versions of him were about to collide.
*
Louise watched. The dart of recognition had pierced and its steady throb was making its presence felt, in her pulsating temples and her warming cheeks. Fury's presence threatened to make her move towards him, its heat empowering her. Why was he here? How could this be? She had been entirely convinced he was dead. Was her mind playing tricks on her?
*
He didn't want her to follow him. He had a new life now and he wanted to preserve that, keep it pure and unsullied. He needed to get away from her and now. Without stopping, he kept moving quickly and smoothly and prayed that she wasn't following him.
*
Louise saw him moving and smiling to herself, started to follow. So, the game of cat and mouse was beginning again, was it? Well, she liked a challenge. After all, she had killed him once, or thought she had.
This time, she'd do it properly.
***
366 words
You think you've got away and then this happens.
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79/366
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Comments (11)
Oh, that ending though. Next time she better make sure.
And this time she won't tell James Bond the elaborate way in which she's designed for him to die then leave before making sure it actually happens, lol.
Omgggg, I loveeeeee Louise! I hope she gets to kill him properly this time and I hope you'll let us witness it hehehehehehe
Loved that you wrote this from both sides and I felt really sorry for her right up until your last para! Wow. That was an epic twist!
Ohhh My, What is she planning to do. This Twisted Villainess story. I can imagine Julia from A Mountain View turn into Louise. Your stories make my imagination run wild . 🥰
Really liked that you gave us both characters’ responses to the encounter! I imagined they’re former spies or something of that nature
Poor bastard. She killed him once, so when he survived it, he just took it as a hint. Message delivered once already. He gets it. Leave the schmuck alone! Haha
I especially loved the build up to the twist in this one, which is a challenge with the word count. Really well done! You took it from ghost-like to that brutal final line like a pro! I loved it!
Wow, I wasn't expecting that ending! This was a great read.
LOL. This is brilliant Rachel. You crafty twisty writer you. Well done. I love that she is this proper femme fatale.
What an ingenious reversal! Kudos!