Short story by Johnston Becker

As I stepped out into the cobblestone street, to lock my shop. Once again realized, I was leaving my sanctuary of peace and solitude. Oh! The
Blissful simplicity of work. Which held the fraternization of those who actually cared about my well being. Even some to whom, I would disclose
My dreams of writing,
Yes, late though I may be as usual. I was dreading the return home from my day of serenity. My wife, whom I had married three months prior to this entry, was fastly becoming a poisonous thorn in my side. (For the lack of a better word). Her constant bickering and foul moodiness has made me conspire to dreams, of being single once again. Oh! The tortuous pain!
Walking through the door to our humble abode. That of which, I
Had worked the greater part of my life away to achieve. She at once began her grumbling. A writer scoff! You couldn’t pen your own name properly
Ha! Ha! Her sarcasm befouled my soul; my blood pressure began to rise,
My eyes went gray and somber. My heart began to beat cold as frost.

As she laid our subtle dinner of vegetable stew upon the table. I
Looked at her with the eyes of hatred, but the only thing my mind could say was yes of course my love. My weakness, ungratifying to myself, I cursed my calmness, my eagerness to please and my low self-esteem.

Turning to my food so as not to meet her glare. I found its flavor as dreadful as her gorgon like company. I spoke with quaint mannerism, beseeched only by those brought in a moralistic family.” My dear have we no salt?”

The heathen became wrenched with fury. Shivers ran up my spine. Fear bequeathed my entire being. Her words were as cold as a rainy night. They bemired my entire being. “How! Could we afford such things?” You work sixteen hours a day and still we haven’t a pence. You broke miserable rodent of a man. I should never have married you.

As my irreverent eyes, looked into her voodoo cursed soul
I perceived such hatred. That I was instantly calmed. I spoke in calculating manner. My budding flower, do not speak such atrocities. Her reply threw me into an instant frenzy. She said, “The truth is no atrocity”. Quickly, I stood and glared at her, and spoke in harshness. If your food were not so lousy, It’s probable that I could work longer to afford you better. I turned and walked quickly towards the bedroom and spoke ferociously. I’m tired I shall retire for the evening. Thank you for the lovely dinner.

As I lay awake in bed. I soon realized sleep would never be forth coming. Soon I began to devise a plan to see my way out of this capricious life. Which I had blindly inherited, Not long after the malevolent creature of my nightmares stumbled awkwardly into our bedroom. She fell upon the bed looked at me with maliciousness, closed her eyes and began to snore. A deep loud echoing noise that could tame a wild beast. My heart froze. How could I live with this monster, this godless wretch!

My plan began to simmer more wildly. It felt as though, it were the only clear thought, I’ve had in a few fortnight. As I sat up to look at the clock it struck the witching hour. It was as if the clock had instructed my sub-conscious to go forth with my plan.

I quickly stood up grasped the nearest pillow. Pressing it over the knaves’ face. The harder I pressed the more the monster fought. My strength not what it once was, it began to give. Suddenly as if struck by some outside force. The witches resolve began to give. I leaned down towards her ear and spoke. What bitter words have you, for me now, may you forever choke on them? Finally she went into her final death throws and her clenched fingers upon my arms began to free. The fight was over. Peace was mine, finally mine. Before I begin to enjoy the accomplishments of this night. Thought I to myself, I must discard the body.

Then I looked upon, the whitening corpse. Shame began to fill my soul, A bitter feeling of emptiness, loneliness clutched my emotions. She seemed so very peaceful as if she were smiling. I began to remember, the first day I laid eyes upon her. I was walking up the muddied streets, towards the general store. Thinking to myself when will this miserable rain cease. I lifted my eyes and before me stood. The most beautiful angel, the lords’ creativity had ever devised.
She was of medium height, with a small frame. Her skin looked as soft as a doves’ feathers. Her lips perfect caricatures of voluptuous shape. Her face forged in the fires of Hesphaestion. Her eyes light green as if Hera herself had seen through them. My heart began to pulsate, my mind flooded with thoughts of her.

Suddenly I awoke from my dream like state. Fastly I began preparing the body for a proper burial. I grabbed an empty flour sack from the storage cellar and wrapped the body in it. The struggle dragging the corpse into the yard was horrible. The New England winter was dawning and soon the ground would be frozen. I began digging vehemently. I said a few words over the peaceful mass. Then began throwing the earth upon the flour sack. Soon after terribly fatigued, I went into the bedroom washed up vigorously and slipped into bed. Not to awake until sometime later the next day,
When I did awake, a certain calmness had mesmerized my spirits. At once, I threw off the covers and sprung from my bed. Thinking to myself now, it is time to begin. Grabbing my Quill pen and ink, I began to pen what at the time, I thought a considerable work. Of adventure and mayhem upon the high seas,
Time went by so quickly, it was as if the sun never rose. All the while I wrote, wrote and wrote. Almost a calendar had passed, before the work was completed. All the while strange occurrences had been happening. Things had certainly gone awry. Often I awoke day after day to find my quill pen and ink missing. Or put in a spot where I hadn’t left them. Bereavement of my mind began to show.

One particular occasion, I remember well. I had gone out into the storage cellar, to grab a jar of peaches. My late wife had bottled before the winter. Only to find myself locked tight into the six by six hole in the ground. Fear went pealing through my being, like a church bell warning the services. Soon my candle went numb, and I shook the door with the might of Hercules. Although much to my chagrin it would not budge. Suddenly as strangely as it had closed the door flew open. As if some supernatural strength were behind it, I was frozen with fear. My legs gelatin at this very moment could barely carry me. Somehow though praise be to the Lord I climbed out. I searched about but could find nothing to merit the strange circumstances.

Autumn was turning the leaves the beautiful colors that befall the season. So I figured before winter sets in. I should take a cart to town and pick up a few provisions. I went into my study compiled the pages of my pride filled work. Put them in order on my desk and continued towards town. After purchasing the much needed provisions. I put them in my cart and continued homeward without another stop.

I immediately put the provisions into the storage cellar, and ran with the wind at my back to my study. Entering the study with only the thoughts of one last proof read on my mind. I found the manuscript was missing GONE! I screamed in agony. My mind slipped away. I started over turning everything in sight. Searching every inch of my home to no avail. The disaster was everywhere; the rancid mess of books, tables, plates, clothing and paperwork was sickening. Still I had not found the manuscript
My tantrum subsiding, Rain pounded the rooftop in nonstop monotone. Drumming my fears away I decided to bathe, and relax to reacquire my proper thought pattern. I lay in the tub, my eyes closed, candles burning. While relaxation worked its’ way into my tired bones. I looked up upon the shelf and there before my very eyes. My manuscript, On top of the manuscript MY LATE WIFES’ WEDDING RING.

I expunged quickly from the miserable warm water. Only to hear a strange incoherent rustling, no, no a voice! I listened harder begging for the words to ring clear and they did. Very clear, “NOW YOU’LL NEVER BE RID OF ME “, spoken with spooky reverence. I went white my heart began to beat so fast, so furious it was uncontrollable. I clutched repeatedly at my chest it would not cease! My Adam’s’ apple began to expand and my breathing became tight and drawn. My muscles quickly weakened, my legs could no longer hold me and I fell to the floor with a terrifying THUD!

Slowly turning still clutching my chest. I looked up and there before my very eyes stood my wives apparition. Yes there she stood bitter as ever, with a condescending smile upon her face. The wretch, My mind, my heart, my spirits, my soul all relinquished at once. My body was thrown into the night and became a shining star of molecular, gastric structure.
The cold eyes still shining their beaming light of hatred at me. While the last thought that crossed my mind. While looking into the cold hard stare of my wives horrid apparition. Was that; this day, this day was OUR ANNIVERSARY!