Writing prompt about revealing a Secret, using that phrase "a new and unexplored world." Story inspired by ex-husband's attempted suicide prior to meeting me.
“I don’t think I could ever live without you,” he said, staring into my eyes. We had been dating for 2 years and it was our anniversary. He said he had something really important to tell me, but I had not expected him to tell me at a mall food court. It wasn’t the most romantic place, but it was the place where we had had our first date. We had gone to the movies and then he bought me my favorite dessert that could only be purchased at the mall: a Cinnabon.
He took a bite of the cinnamon roll, then he cut a piece with his plastic fork and lifted it to my mouth. The gooey sweetness made the inside corners of my cheeks tingle like I hadn’t had sugar in weeks. I closed my eyes as I savored the warm pastry and felt his hand cover the top of mine on the table.
“You look like a kitten being petted.”
“I feel like one,” I smiled, still wondering what his important news was. I was trying to tune out the din of the busy dining area.
“I don’t know what you are doing with a guy like me.” He looked down at the table. I felt the sudden shift in his energy. “You are such a strong woman. Why are you dating me?”
Here we go again. I thought he was going to talk about moving in together or to go on a road trip to celebrate our two years together.
“Because I love you,” I said softly, putting my other hand on top of his. “You are such a sweet gentle man.”
A toddler dropped his fries from the table next to us and fell from his chair trying to reach it. Before the kid had a chance to cry, my boyfriend flashed to his side and pick him up, cooing and placing him back on his chair. The mom had barely risen from her seat and the child was already consoled.
As my beloved sat back down, I beamed. “See, Holden Caulfield, you are the rescuer of the children in the rye, catching them before they fall off the cliff.”
He grimaced.
“Do you remember that poem you gave me? The one about men too gentle to live among wolves?”
“By James Kavanaugh, yes,” I crooned.
“Well, I think I’m too gentle to live among wolves. I brought you here today because it’s my 5 year anniversary from the day I chose death…”
He trailed off and I watched his eyes dart to the exit sign.
“What do you mean?” I squeezed his hand to bring his attention back, my heart starting to race. “You chose death? But you are alive!”
“I was sitting right here in this food court and I swallowed an entire bottle of Tylenol. There was a lady at that table right next to us.” He pointed to the boy he had just picked up after falling. “She saw me pass out and called 911. When I came to, I was in a hospital bed, still alive. I didn’t choose it. They caught me from the cliff I was supposed to fall off of.”
I tried to steel myself, hide my look of horror. He must have seen the stunned look on my face and slipped his hand from mine and into his lap, hanging his head.
“Even though you didn’t choose life then, I’m glad someone chose it for you. You found me and now you and I can live in this new and unexplored world together where there may be wolves but I’m here now.”
“No,” he said. “I’m not meant for this world. If I am your Holden, I need to save you from falling off the cliff with me. I am going to a new and unexplored world without you.”
“But you said you didn’t think you could live without me.”
“I can’t. And this time, no one is going to stop me.”
He got up and walked to the exit without saying goodbye.
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