They say that a paper cut hurts worse than a stab, and Mr. Hoffman knew first hand that was right.
For he was watching his lawyer and Mrs. Hoffman's, slowly divide both their lives.
The sting of the silences had torn loves core, and emptied the words that were left.
Leaving a woman he once held, filled with morsels of regret.
Now its down to a mortgage, a dog, 3 kids, and 2 cars.
While he is left with regrets of his own, and a broken heart.
Afterwards he will lay with a remote control, and a dog on a roll out bed,
with regrets slicing torment inside of his head.
For these things were the culprit that gave the stabbing blow.
That have left him to live as half the man he had once known.
A great site for writers Magpie Tales
"Do you know the most surprising thing about divorce? It doesn't actually kill you. Like a bullet to the heart or a head-on car wreck. It should. When someone you've promised to cherish till death do you part says "I never loved you," it should kill you instantly." ~Frances, from Under The Tuscan Sun
I love this. The quote too, I got a little teary eyed....
ReplyDelete"regrets slicing torment..." excellent writing! So concise and sharp, just like the blade in the prompt! (I still haven't done mine, found this one difficult- well done!)
ReplyDeleteThank you both for your comments, this prompt was a tough one. Hope you both have an awesome weekend! :-)
ReplyDeletepowerful lines..a very tear felt story!
ReplyDeleteVery sad -and having been there...the knive stabbing is exactly right....bkm
ReplyDeletesome once told me how painful her divorce was... she said being separated by death is far bearable than a divorce and i guess thats true.
ReplyDeletei wouldn't want to marry someone and end up hearing "i never loved you" ten or twenty years down the line!
love this post too. very sad yet profound!!
Have a great weekend.
Ruth
I love the way the papercut in the first line leads into the imagery of the lawyers (who make up the papers that must be signed) dividing things up -- very nice.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time with this one too.
So sad, and yet so true. The pain of divorce..
ReplyDelete"with regrets slicing torment inside of his head"
This is a sharp, clean and piercing piece. Which makes the sadness of the subject matter stand out all the more.
ReplyDeleteOh Carrie....you are just fantastic!!! wanna read more and more..its a pleasure to read you page. Bring it on!!
ReplyDeleteLovely...you are a talented writer because you touch on the emotions of the reader. I love that quote from "Under the Tuscan Sun."
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog... it led me to yours. What a gifted writer you are! I'm looking forward to reading you more :)
ReplyDeletea very touching post - divorce is painful and cut you in pieces.
ReplyDeleteloveNlight
Gabi
Thank you everyone for your comments. Yes, divorce is a painful subject,that we all can relate to. Even if we have not been through it, we know someone else that has. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tale, you have a way to so seamlessly transport yourself into the deepest emotions and thoughts of others - truly the sign of a marvellous writer :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful tale. Had to wipe a tear, too. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ra...I have tissues if you need one.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend! :-)
Touching.
ReplyDeleteThe photo brought domestic pain more than physical harm to my mind too. Guess it was the plate.
I love the opening sentence which made me read further into your beautiful story, and really, I enjoyed what I read.
ReplyDeletea chilling tale to be left half the man...though in todays society so common...nicely written magpie!
ReplyDeleteFabulous Magpie. I think the heart of a divorcée bleeds the longest! But we do survive.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a bird with my food.
ReplyDeleteWonderful and heart-tugging. I need to watch that movie again, too.
ReplyDeletethere is so much pain in divorce, it took me down for a while. i'm much better now.
ReplyDeleteso well written, great magging!
Indeed! These are the cuts that produce no visible blood. Well written!
ReplyDeleteGreat Magpie- one can bleed to death without a cut.
ReplyDeleteoh carrie, your magpie is so good! i couldn't help but wonder when you had left a comment on my blog, saying that you had gone through some very difficult times this past year, if your magpie was truer than i imagined? i do want to thank you so much for the comfort and warmth you shared with me, my friend. i can only hope that you will receive the same from me!
ReplyDeletevery powerfully written
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your sweet comments. I do appreciate every one. I have so enjoyed reading everyone's Magpie. It is such a wonderful idea.
ReplyDelete:-)
heart wrenching. Realistic. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteI have experienced the pain and anguish of divorce ~ made all the more difficult when children are present .... you have written a Magpie that will resonate with many.
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen. Yes, it is much harder when children are involved. Been there,and done that. I hope all is going well for you now. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrom the first line, the papercut and stab were perfect metaphors, and the whole piece was awe-inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the addition of the quote, it closed the piece so well (And 'Under The Tuscan Sun' is such a good film).
Thank you Aoife, I love that movie as well. It is one of my favorites. :-)
ReplyDelete