Shiny Things - January 12th, 2006

06:47 am - 100 Stories #2: Goodbye

He wanted peace, not children, but on finding her couldn't abandon her. He asked other families to take her in, but none wanted the nervous, sickly child.

He was dutiful, if not tender. He patted her when she clung, held her when she wailed. He bought toys but she wrecked them in anxiety. He played to appease her, dreading the return of her misery when exhausted he must stop. He cleaned up her sick.

Now his home had peace again. On leaving her grave he said "Poor thing, no one ever loved you." But he knew he was lying.