One of the darker things I’ve posted–for a reason. Read to the end. This is a true story.
He said he would kill them
In his time, in his way
And yet they let him stay
Even before they loved each other
They loved him
Faithfully and steadfastly
And when they married
He moved in with them
Years fell away
They had children
Dreamed dreams
Lost their dreams
Then found them again
Aged a little
And aged a little more
They shared everything with him
Everything
Yet he never ceased to whisper,
“One day I will kill you”
By now it seemed a carnal jest
A monkeyshine
And then he killed the man
The woman was gutted, emptied
The man had been everything to her
“Not you!” she screamed,
“It was never you I loved!”
And yet she let him stay
A generation passed
Before she found the courage
To make him leave
When she did, he said,
“Did you think it would matter?”
Eight more years passed
And then suddenly and without warning
He came to fulfill his promise
“Why did you wait until now?” she whispered
“Wait?” he said
“My dear,
I began killing you
The day we met”
He stayed till the end
Not because he loved her
But because he wanted to watch
Cigarette smoking kills six million people every year. It is the most preventable cause of death in the world. It killed both of my grandfathers. It killed my mother and my father, too. It was they who inspired this story. She was 69. He was 45. I will miss them forever.
I will not miss their illicit lover.
I’ll be honest, I had to skip to the end because the beginning was repellent (which usually you don’t repel me). After I realized it was cigarettes and not an actual man I read the whole thing. But I guess that’s the point, cigarettes are repellent. And dangerous. Very clever story and very effective. I’m only sorry it had to be inspired from personal loss.
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Yes, I debated how to structure this, Lilly. I didn’t want to take the metaphor too far, but didn’t want to telegraph the ending either. Thanks for the feedback!
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I thought it was an actual man as well. I loved the way you wrote it. I hope it opens the eyes of those who read it and are still coddling their sinister lover.
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I can so relate to this. Though I’ve never smoked myself, both of my parents did and they both died of cancer too young. It makes me so angry when I see young people today smoking. When my parents started smoking in the 40s the effects of cigarettes weren’t as well known. Why anyone would start in this day and age I’ll never understand.
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Amen, Linda! In addition, although like you I’ve never been a smoker, I grew up in a cloud of second-hand smoke and (like millions) have been affected by that, as well.
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And so sorry to hear about your parents.
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Nice! Cigarettes killed both my grandfathers, as well. Fortunately, my father quit before he was 30 or he might have, as well. It never ceases to amaze me that people still choose to smoke.
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So sorry to hear about your grandfathers, Victoria–and glad to hear that your father skirted the bullet! Yes, most people begin smoking when they’re young and believe (although they won’t admit it) that they’re immortal.
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Very well-written & powerful!
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Thank you, Anne!
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I lost a grandfather to lung cancer (smoking) another grandfather to alcohol, my Dad is (so far) a colon cancer survivor (can also be caused by smoking which he did a lot of) and my mother and sister had terrible asthma from my Dad’s smoking for years as well. It’s a nasty thing. Good for you for speaking out. 🙂
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Sorry to hear of so much pain and loss in your family, Debbie.
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Aww, thanks, Mitch. I’m okay. 🙂 Bless you.
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This was very moving. I’m sorry about your parents. I had an uncle die of lung cancer at 42 yrs. old. He smoked non-filtered cigarettes, 3 packs a day. I smoked as a teen. I quit at 19. I started again when I started having mental problems 10 years ago. I wish I’d never started again, but I do believe God will help me quit.
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He will, Belle.
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I see any addiction as Satan interfering in a relationship. Powerful!
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I see it, too!
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WOW! So, so true. Smoking kills. It killed my dad and his second-hand smoke killed my mother who never smoked yet died of lung cancer. Hubby and I kicked out the killer 40 some years ago. Best parting we ever made! Thanks for sharing!
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Good for you and your husband, Sandi! And so sorry to hear that you–like others above–have lost family members to this killer.
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It would be good if people would think of the consequences and how this would affect their loved ones. Good story.
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I agree, Karina, and thank you.
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Wow what a powerful message
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Thank you.
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What a true story this one is for sure! Dwight
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Like drinking, smoking is a terrible vice. My condolences my friend, God bless you.
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Thank you for this, Mitch. So powerful. Sorry to hear about your loved ones, Thankfully my dad quit before I was born, but there are still so many people I love – so many people in the world – who smoke. My thoughts are always with them.
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Me too, Sophie.
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