Felicity’s gift.

Jeremy booked into the Country House

He was the first to sign in

To the weekend writing course

It was a birthday present

From Felicity, his wife

After leaving his case in his room

He went to the lounge

And met some of the other writers

He wished he had worn

Casual clothes

Everybody was given a name tag

An itinerary of the weekend workshops

A menu to tick off preferred meals

And a list of the speakers

He went to bed early

He he woke up in the early hours

Worried about what he would write

Then he worried about his wife

Why had she bought him this course

What was she doing in his absence?

The day went badly for him

Everyone else seemed to understand

The harder he tried

The more his head ached

He wanted to go home.

He slept well through the night

But his dreams stayed with him

When he awoke he thought

Surely his wife was tired of him

Who was she seeing?

At the end of the weekend

All had to read their final essay

Jeremy was unaware of the rapt attention

That everyone paid to his heartfelt story

Of deceit, revenge and unfaithfulness.

On the drive home, he re-imagined

The story he had written

Scattered pages stitched together

Scenarios from other places

To feed his fevered mind.

Her car was nowhere in the drive

The house was in darkness

He ran up the stairs to find

Their wardrobe doors open

And her overnight bag missing

Memories kept surfacing

Of all that he had done for her

Now that she had gone

He trashed her dressing table

In a blind unthinking rage

An anguished hour passed

Then he saw it on the kitchen table

A note written hastily

On the back of an envelope

Propped against the pepperpot

My darling Jeremy, I didn't want

To spoil your birthday gift

But I know you'll understand

I've had to rush to the hospital -

Mummy is dying

Your ever loving Felicity xxx