as some of you know, i write short stories for a workshop for the Goodman Teather.
this season we were inspired by the play Betrayal, with the prompt why do we lie.
this is a very different kind of short story. is like im having a conversation with my ex, but you can only read/hear my words, not his. hope you like it.
Would I lie to you ?
1999, 2 years after the separation.
Sorry i’m late
Wow, this is our table
Glad you remember that
Yeah, its been more than 2 years since last saw you.
You look good, too!
Are we ready to order?
Should we share plates?
Like always?
Oh its no problem for me
Lets do it your way.
You look happy
Maybe being away from me works for you
Really?
I was just thinking
I just going to ask this:
Do you remember how we got engaged?
Yes! Thats right, on the way back from your parents house
Airplane number 471
472! Right!
It was a beautiful day! It was !
So much fun!
Ok, food is here, lets eat
Should we talk about what happened?
I could only if we both share responsibilities
Ok then, i don't want to talk about it
Well, because it was not only my fault
Ok,ok….that was my fault.
How we met, april 1992
As the supervisor at this marble factory, I was in charge of hiring and training new folks, one day in walks this tall, all american blond. By some “luck” he was hired to work in my department . We immediately made a connection and within 2 months we were a couple, 2 years later I met his parents and family, and on the plane back from houston: he proposed. There was no ring, no one got down on one knee. We just hugged in silence and cried happy tears of pure joy.
The wedding happened less than a year after the proposal.
Back to 1999.
I know, I know
It was the betrayal, you say?
To me it was a lot of things too, you know?
And, I wish we could talk about those things as well.
No, no I know
Yes, I admit to it now as I did back then
It was my fault.
The wedding, 1995
We both dressed in blue jeans and white tshirts, we exchanged white gold rings, there were no promises, no vows. Instead each of us selected a song that represented our relationship. He selected : UB40’s version of can’t help falling in love with you. I selected : Liberation by the petshop boys. With the lyrics: Now, right now. Your love is liberation to me. At one point during that song, he leaned over and whispered in my ear “ oh lake jackson” “ no Galveston” i responded. He knew what I was trying to say with that song. Good! He remembered.
We ordered food from CJ’s a BBQ restaurant that most people in our little town in Texas will order food from on special occasions, and this was a special occasion. Most of our friends were there, 25 people more or less. Not our families. My mom was living here in chicago and could not make the trip and his parents were not too happy that he was getting married to a mexican.
What happened? You ask ?
I cheated, with my ex. The ex that my husband got into a physical fight with, over, i dont know over what, over a lot of things. The ex that was abusive to me, the ex that stole money from us, and the tv and the stereo and…….. One day I was drinking at this bar and he was there as well, so we went to a hotel, and someone saw us and that someone told my husband, ———-. One week later he was gone. Why did I go to the hotel with my ex ? I don't know. 25 years later I still don't know.
1999, back at the restaurant.
So, this is it?
You are leaving now?
Don't want to finish your food?
Ok, I walk you out
No? Ok, is ok
Let me just say this:
Im ok, im happy, i found someone else, i'm living the best life, have lots of friends, a good job, we go out most weekends, we go to bars to play pool, we are planning a trip to go camping, I am working a lot, saving money to move to Chicago. I think it was a good idea to separate from you. I don't think of you at all, you are forever out of my mind. I don't even love you anymore.
Would I lie to you?