I Can't Explain

I know things look bad. I can explain the blood. I was playing with my dog and he scratched me pretty bad. He can be rough.

What about the witness who saw you going into the house?

I was just dropping off the divorce papers. They should be in the filing cabinet.

I see. And the threatening emails from your account?

Someone's trying to frame me.

Very good. That just leaves the matter of the security camera. How do you explain that someone who looks remarkably like you was recorded beating your ex to death with a field hockey stick?

Out Of Time

Christopher ran as fast as possible to the station. Typical, leaving it to the last minute.

He kept hoping Brian would say something first. Even if it wasn't I'm sorry, the simple act of reaching out would have encouraged Christopher to admit the accusations had been out of line. He can't help his sensitive heart, and sometimes Brian was the victim.

Now Brian is on the train to Boston. Now Brian is marrying the ex he'd left for Christopher. Now Brian is dead.

The apology will forever go unstated. He will forever be alone. Christopher has fallen out of time.

The Agony Of Farmland

Ellie drove while I fiddled with the radio. Neither of us spoke. It had been that way for an hour now. I wasn't angry like before and I was hoping she'd apologize so I could say it was okay. But then she'd sigh in that petulant way and my anger would resurface. There was no way I'd be the first to give in again.

The silence stretched on as the highway grew flatter and the forests were replaced by farmland. She'd better apologize before we reached my parents'. They'd probably side with her like they've done with all my exes.