She was in the backyard inspecting the finished bug hotel which had been a labor of love when she heard a car door slam. Hurrying to the front, she was surprised to see Mike. “You went out?”
“I mentioned this morning that I was going out.”
“I forgot. The bug hotel’s finished.”
He didn’t answer.
“Want to see it?”
“Later.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Us.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re drifting apart.”
“Why do you say that?”
“We need to talk, Susan.”
“Okay. I’ll be right in.”
He hesitated before walking toward the house.
Twenty minutes later, she went inside.
98 Words
This was written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. For more details, visit Here. To read stories based on this week’s prompt, visit Here.
Notes to Women 
Sounds like it might be too late for them. Let’s hope it’s amicable.
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She wasn’t in a hurry to what he was going to say. Good story.
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Thanks, Jilly. And you’re right. She said she would be right in instead of going in with him right then. And she ended up going in twenty minutes later. Doesn’t sound like their marriage is a top priority for her.
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Oh dear, another crunch time approaching. I feel sorry for them both.
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Great story. Perhaps she can put her efforts into the bug hotel instead 🙂
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Thanks, Jennifer 🙂 It seems like she has already been putting more effort into the bug hotel instead of her marriage.
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I have a feeling she was preparing a farewell gift for him, with a little help of the bugs.
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Hopefully not 🙂
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Hmm, lots to ponder here, and it doesn’t sound like they’re going to try to mend their relationship.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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He wants to talk about the state their relationship is in but it doesn’t seem as important or a priority for her.
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Something has clearly been bugging their relationship!
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ha ha–good one, Varad 🙂
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You’ve taken a great deal of care over that story, and it’s paid off. You tell us so much about the marriage, but obliquely and satisfyingly. You’ve made it clear that Mike is dissatisfied with the marriage, and is looking for a stronger relationship, whereas Susan has what she wants and isn’t really interested. You’ve made Mike sound like someone who will keep his temper, and work constructively to improve things, and I expect Susan will co-operate once she realises that she could lose him. From what you show us here, she’s a very lucky woman. Most men would not have stayed faithful under those circumstances. Very few would have the understanding to be so constructive.
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Thanks, Penny. I do hope she comes to her senses and works with Mike to improve their relationship before it’s too late. And she is blessed to have a husband like him. Other women would cherish him.
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A little truth-telling on both sides may save the day. I hope.
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I’m hoping that they will work things out.
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She may need to assess her priorities here…
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Yes, she does before it’s too late.
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Very well done,NtW. You can see that they are not at all on the same page… a way-too-realistic sounding marriage, actually! So many are just existing as couples. And usually one wants more than the other.
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Thanks, Dale. Yes, it’s obvious that their marriage is not a priority for her. It’s a sad reality that many couples are just existing or their marriages end in divorce because they no longer want the same thing or they’ve drifted apart. There’re so many reasons why marriages end. I feel badly for the husband in this case, though.
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Sad. Realistic, lighthearted dialog turns serious, with deep-rooted issues sprouting out of nowhere. I got the feeling he is about to tell her he’s leaving. Perhaps its been a long time coming. Relationships need nurturing and tending (and sometimes pruning!) much like gardens.
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You’re right. Relationships need to be nurtured. He’s very concerned about the state of their marriage and rightly so and he wants to have a heart to heart with her but it seems like their marriage isn’t a priority for her. If it was, she would have gone into the house with him.
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I hope they can work it out.
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I hope so too but I’m not optimistic.
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