Always a bridesmaid

September 6, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 18 Comments

What were you thinking? Were you even thinking? I don’t know. I guess I thought that if I treated him like he treated me, he’d see. If I blew off dates, or didn’t call him back, he’d miss me, realize he wanted to be with me. That if I talked down to him in front … Continue reading Always a bridesmaid

Peel me a grape

August 15, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 16 Comments

“I don’t like how he talks to her. Like he’s commanding a dog rather than speaking to his wife.” The new engineer and his bride were the latest topic of gossip at the company picnic. Ross schmoozed with bosses while Betsy lingered on the fringes, speaking only to Ross when he snapped his fingers for … Continue reading Peel me a grape

The Playground

August 9, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 9 Comments

Pumping his legs up and down, leaning forward then throwing his body backward, he tried, but failed miserably, to get his motions in sync. He wanted to swing free, to feel the wind in his face and the exhilaration of flying, but only managed to hang motionless, dejectedly going nowhere. It was a sad foreshadowing … Continue reading The Playground

Crush

July 26, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 9 Comments

I gave up my dreams for you. You didn't demand it, you never would. Being with you is all I wanted. You never disappointed me, never let me down, never cheated on me. I knew what to expect and willing turned over my life to you. My family tried to convince me you were up … Continue reading Crush

But no one’s home

July 4, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 9 Comments

Two women, dressed in colorful surgery scrubs, lingered at the nurses' desk sorting through resident files to leave evening reports for the attending physicians. "How was she tonight?" With a nod of her head, the younger of the two indicated the occupant of Room 24, one of their Alzheimer patients. Most days she thought she was … Continue reading But no one’s home

Driving since midnight

June 27, 2012January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 14 Comments

The impromptu picnic was his idea, a rare moment alone with her dad. He spread a blanket under "their" tree overlooking the river. Her favorite sandwiches, peanut butter and dill pickles, were packed along with thermoses of Hawaiian Punch and Sprite. "I don't understand," her voice cracked. Fighting against her tears, she was shocked to … Continue reading Driving since midnight