A Game Of Veils

The Prompt

Convey a deep conversation between two individuals without uttering a single word aloud.

The title and concept were inspired by a line in Clive Barker's "Imajica".

The music is "Long Black Veil" by The Chieftains featuring Mick Jagger.

A Game Of Veils

He sat and wondered what she was hiding. She never said much, but today there was nothing. Trying to get her to open up was like peeling an onion, layer by layer, and every layer resulted in tears....

She looked at him, she knew he wanted to know, but she couldn't tell him, not today. They seldom spoke, and if they did it was never more than a few words. She felt the tears welling up. She could not risk losing this job, and letting anyone know about what happened could mean that she was out the door, and that must not happen.

Without a job, she would be out on the street, with her cat and dog.

He wasn't too sure how to get her to talk and tell him what was wrong, he took her hand and looked in her eyes and could see her tears. Tears were welling up in his eyes too. He really liked her, maybe even loved her, but never had the nerve to go further than the most basic of words, but he knew there was something wrong and wanted to be there.

She pulled her hand away. She liked him but felt she could not get too close because then she would have to reveal what was happening at home.

He was tempted to say something but was scared that even a word might upset her even more and he really wanted to comfort her and try and make her life a little better, and that was making him upset, but he knew that he needed to be strong for her if he was to show true friendship.

Home had been awful for her since it happened. Her parents blamed her, called her stupid for getting caught, and said that she would proably lose her job, and if she did she would be out on her ear, with her cat and and dog.

It hadn't been her fault. Her basket was full, and she put a can of tomatoes in her bag with the intention of paying for the whole lot at the checkout, but the pedantic security man saw her immediately and manhandled her to the office. She said she was going to pay, and was willing to pay now, but the security guard and his boss and called the police who came and took her to the station and said that she would be charged and her crime mad public.

She was devasted.

That was her secret. Should she confide in him, trust him with this secret?

Her family were awful, but this person may be a friend, although part of her said he might take it as an opportunity to hurt her even more.

He grabbed her hand again, then pulled her towards him and hugged her. He hoped she would see it for what it was.

She felt that this was not something done by a manipulative or spiteful person, she started crying into his shoulder, she felt love and care here, she felt safe, she felt that she could trust. That hug changed her mind, she would tell him, she knew he would comfort her and help her, because that is what he was doing now.

When your world is falling apart, to find someone who believes in you can cut through all the veils of hurt and fear that wrap you in their dark folds.

She opened her mouth to thank him and tell him.