Cœur Brisé

The sound of pounding on the door reverberated around the petite cottage. Marie felt beads of sweat begin to form across her forehead. She glanced around the room. Her husband was nowhere in sight. Now she began to panic. She rose to her feet from the pile of blankets that she used as a bed.

Her heart started to frantically beat. She did not even put on a bra in her sudden haste to check on her kids. Her body moved like a fox ready to pounce on a wild rabbit after a long winter season. The door leading to her kids room was not locked— that worried her a bit-…She hoped nothing had happened to them while she had been in dreamland.

The sweet aroma of fresh flowers in a vase by the window hit her as soon as she walked into the children’s room. Tears began to slowly drip from her eyes. She felt a sigh of relief. There in the room laying ever so peacefully where the twins: Frank, & Ophelia.

She tiptoed toward them then spoke to them in almost a whisper: ‘‘Come on.’’

Ophelia yawned and rubbed her eyes. ‘‘What about father?’’

Marie planted a kiss on both of their foreheads, and then replied: ‘‘Your father went ahead of us. Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.’’

She told the kids to grab their coats, and follow her.

They did as their mother asked. As they hurried out of the cottage from the back door, Frank looked back and cried.

Later they arrived at a house that sat near a small creek. Marie knocked on the door.

The door swung open. A voice gasped. ‘‘Marie?? Where’s Jean?’’

Marie shook her head. Her eyes almost started welling up with tears. But she had to remain calm for now. She did not want to worry her kids.

The kind voice of Marie’s dear friend helped her to be a little at peace. The children were delighted to pay a visit to their godmother, Rebekah.

Rebekah guided her guests toward a table. Marie saw the pile of documents that had been prepared for her, and the kids, too.

The godmother gave Marie a tight squeeze. ‘‘Keep in touch. Come back, and visit us all here the moment it’s safe to do so.’’

At midnight, Rebekah escorted Marie and the children to another private location. When they got there, a tiny aircraft had been waiting for them.

This time she could not help herself. She waved goodbye, and announced to the kids: ‘‘We are taking a little trip. We shall come back here sometime later to visit our family, and friends.’’

The kids nodded their heads.

Days turned into weeks, which turned into years.

Marie was enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate while sitting near the fireplace. She sighed. How long had it been since she promised the kids they’d be heading back home?

She heard the sound of someone knocking at her door. This startled her. She was not expecting any visitors, and at such a late hour. The kids had already gone to bed.

Marie stood, and slowly walked to the front door. She opened it, and she froze in terror. The stranger started to speak, but did not know what to say to her. Then he cleared his throat and asked, ‘‘May I come in?’’

She began to sob, and clenched her fists. ‘’You left us, and you broke my heart… Jean."

‘‘Perhaps several hearts were broken that day, including my own.’’

Marie scoffed. ‘‘What now?? You want to try to come back and try to make this family somewhat whole?? Huh?’’

She was about to shut the door when Jean pleaded. ‘‘Can I at least see our kids?’’

Marie raised her eyebrow. ‘‘Our kids? You have not seen them in years!! I had to tell them that their father passed away in battle. He died a hero. Don’t ruin that for them now by trying to come back into their lives!’’

Jean now began to sob, too. He went down on his knees, and bowed. ‘‘Please, forgive me. I promise not to run away from my role as a husband, and father, ever again.’’

Marie took a deep breath, and screamed. ‘‘Ahh! It’ll take sometime for me to forgive you, but I don’t think I’ll forget what you did to me, Frank, and Ophelia.’’

He began to step back to a standing pose. Marie stopped him the second her tried to walk through the door. ‘‘Come back in the morning. Maybe I will let you see the kids then. But that’s not a promise. You’ll need to at least try to be there for the kids this time. You should know that they both still adore you. I can’t say the same thing for me though. Not at this time. I ask that you be a good father to them now…’’

Jean have a slight nod. ‘‘I shall be there for them and not leave without saying a word like last time. Please, at least let me be in their lives, yes, as their father. Again, I’m sorry for leaving you, and the kids alone for this long.’’

Marie slammed the door. She felt like the world was spinning. Yes, she would never forget what he did, but a part of her still wanted to know that he was okay— and not laying dead in a ditch-, or worse MIA. She was glad to have seen him still alive, and that he had come back even if it took him ages to check in on them, his beloved family.

~https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu-gYFDo070

12 Avril 2023

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