Sheila picked her way over shards of broken glass, quenching her anger as she went. She focused on the pieces, lit by the sunlight. “You’re even beautiful when shattered,” she whispered to no-one. The vase had been a present for her twenty-first birthday and the only memory piece she’d kept of her mother when they downsized. Her eyes welled with tears and she tried to bring back the anger. It was easier to manage than this overwhelming sense of loss.
“Harry!” Screaming abuse at her husband would give her an outlet but her call was met with silence. ‘Harry!” Her angry call was replaced by one filled with anguish as she noticed a ladder lying on the ground with her husband on the floor next to it. She rushed to Harry but could see it was too late. He was gone. Fifty years together, the love of her life.
“Harry, you bastard. I’ve told you before – put the safety catches on the ladder when you use it.” Anger definitely made it easier.
word count 174
Thank you to Priceless Joy for hosting FFfAW and to Enisa for providing this week’s photo prompt.
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Good one Irene, well done. Guess she lost more than the vase.
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Yes the cause of the vase breaking was the biggest loss.
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Excellent interplay of emotions. Very good writing, Irene.
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Thank you Neel.
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Anger can be a coping mechanism and makes all the other emotions easier. Powerful story to show that!
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Thanks Charli.
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It seems anger is all she has left.
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Sadly, yes.
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I like the way you structured it. I have analyzed reactions. The first response is despair, disappointment or shock, then, we generate anger to help us cope with the situation. It gives strength.
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Thanks Reena. She needed the strength.
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Anger can be very therapeutic. Excellent Irene.
Click to read my FFfAW!
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Yes it can get you through that initial despair. Thank you Keith.
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Was she more upset about the vase or poor Harry! Interesting look at emotions Irene.
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Thanks Iain. I think the husband.
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Poor Harry! 🙂
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Sadly more men over 50 die from ladder falls than any other accidents. Harry joined the statistics.
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Eek!
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You painted some great images, I really felt for Shelia. Harry really should have known better, but then men will be men.
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Sadly – yes men will be men and you can’t tell them.
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Wow, that was some ending, Irene.
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Thanks Robbie. It’s sad but it is the commonest cause of hospital admissions for men over 50 when it comes to accidents.
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One loss followed by an even greater loss; very emotional piece!
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Wow! Filled with a lot of emotion! So true about grief – it comes with a great deal of anger. Great story, Irene!
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Thanks Joy. Reading the other stories though has made me realise I need better spectacles. I couldn’t tell what the photo was so went with the feeling it gave me.
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That was what made it so good! 🙂
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😄
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🙂 I didn’t know it was a campfire either!
Ellespeth
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Haha. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.
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This one was truly heart-breaking.
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Thank you.It is the moment we all dread.
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Great job, Irene. Clearly the vase was more important!
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Whoa! My husband is 76…no more ladders for him! Not that he listens to me 😦
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That is the problem – they don’t listen to you and become fixated on whatever has to be done.I have one like that as well.
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Oh dear! She’s going to be angry for quite a while.
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Yes but the guilt will probably kick in soon.
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