She Was Secure – Part II – Porcelain Rose
M turned her yellow-purple stained cheek away from Rodrigo Gonçalves, her husband of twenty miserable years. Lowering her eyes, she kept them focussed on his boots. Think! Think! Don’t allow him any incentive to lash out! Desperately, she needed money for Maria, the daughter he had cruelly thrown away. M concentrated on his leather boots. Their shine stung her teary eyes. His boots were immaculately stitched, finely crafted, expensive and brand new. Out of the corner of her eye, there was a swift movement. A flit of fabric followed by cheap perfume. Another young girl had been lured into his tarantula’s burrow! It was then M saw the open bottle of Palm Wine on the stained table. Her Mother had always polished the table -despite having numerous servants – to a warm rich gold. The table, handcrafted by her Father and given to her Mother as a wedding present, was now like herself disfigured by stains and filth. If only her loving parents were still alive. If only her husband had not turned toxic because of money. If only she had seen the self-indulgent demon behind the veneer.
How had she not noticed the angry rhythmic tap of his boot? Ask now, now before ire explodes. Quietly, tentatively, M asked, but knew her timing was terrible.
Scrambling for the few escudos he had jeeringly tossed at her, she expelled her breath in relief. Rodrigo’s verbal abuse clashed off the walls as she fled.
Stifled sobs stung her ears long before she reached the shelter. M pressed the money into a loyal servant’s hands. Limping with age and arthritis, the old servant hurried towards the doctor’s office.
Kneeling against the broken bed, M pressed a wet rag against Maria’s lovely brow. Animal smells of sweat and blood drenched her daughter. Fever consumed her beautiful Maria, the delicate Porcelain Rose, the official flower of Sao Tome. As more pain surged through Maria, she clenched ringless hands around her Mother. Sadly, her daughter died like a discarded smashed doll. M wept, prayed for Maria’s soul, then cursed her husband’s barbaric cruelty.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI had to go back and re-read the first part of your story, Margarida, and I’m glad you let us in on some more details. It’s a sad and strange fate that your grandmother, M in your story, lived through. Who could have thought that the strong, handsome, and hardworking Rodrigo would turn out the way he did once he had money and power? Your story is interesting, fascinating and sad, especially… Read more »
Thanks a million for your rich praise, Christer. I’m sorry that I never had the opportunity to meet my Portuguese Grandma and my namesake. Her secure privileged life tail spun downwards after her husband was corrupted by money and wealth. So sad that his wife and children consequently suffered. I needed to write this story as a kind of purification but at the same time I had to tiptoe around so many… Read more »
Oops, I mean “life’s tale” as in “Her privileged life’s tale spiralled downwards…”
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleMargarita, this is a lovely sad tale. I indeed sympathise with M. Please, can you shed more light on the clause, “she clenched ringless hands around her Mother.”
Happy New Year, Thompson and thanks for commenting on my flash fiction. So glad you asked about this particular clause. Parts 1 and 2 were difficult to write because my story had to tiptoe around so many subjects deemed above the PG 13 rating. I was trying to hint rather than say that Maria was in a crude birthing room. “Ringless hands” was an euphemism for unmarried. My mother only gave me… Read more »
A very sad tale. For me, verbal abuse is something that we need to avoid. It can damage and ruin life through emotional pain. Sad to say, I do hate my husband too, for the same reason. I don’t have the courage yet to talk to him about it. Sometimes, I told myself, “All is enough I need freedom.” But the decision is not yet final. It is hard to decide because… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleAlways a pleasure to hear from you Lotchie, but I am truly saddened to hear that you are in an abusive relationship. Hold your chin high!
Within an hour of being in my substitute class, one student opened up to me about his depression. I quoted Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, “There is always help available…”
Sincerely, I wish you well and happier times, Lotchie.
Thank you always for lifting up my spirit, Margarida.