Surrounded by Love
A Story Every Day in 2024 April 2nd 93/366
It had been weeks now since they had split and Milly was feeling the pain of it still. She had felt like this was it: The One. She had allowed her imagination to drift into shared space, weddings, family dinners. She had finally thought that she was part of a collective: Milly and Mark. The alliteration even had a nice feel, like they belonged together.
But Mark had other ideas and she was contemplating life "on the shelf" again; she remained unwanted, unloved, left to sit and wait.
She wanted to wallow, but her sister had commandeered her for an outing to the zoo. Milly knew that she had arranged it as a distraction but she also had her suspicions that Milly would be a welcome pair of hands to help with her two nieces.
Her phone dinged and she saw that she had a message. When she saw it was Fred, she wasn't surprised. He was her best friend, always and he had checked in on her every day.
"He's a dick, Milly," Fred had said, "to let you go." Fred meant this earnestly. He loved Milly wholeheartedly and he was always telling his other half how he couldn't understand why these men ended it.
"I don't get it, Pete," he'd say, whilst cooking the dinner. "She's brimming with goodness. Why don't they want it?"
Milly didn't know either but Fred's attention always made her feel warm. His love was uncomplicated, steady and she was grateful for it.
A horn blared. Milly quickly gathered her phone, bag and keys and headed down the steps to the waiting car. The zoo awaited.
*
"Can you get Maisie out, Milly?"
Milly went to get her niece from the car seat. As Milly put her head in, her niece was gazing at her, wide-eyed and smiling. Maisie reached her pudgy hands towards Milly's face and placed them on her aunt's cheeks and gently patted. Milly looked into Maisie's eyes, so clear and accepting of her, so full of love. She kissed her niece's chubby cheeks and glowed as she giggled.
She felt her gloom lift a little. She may not have Mark but she was surrounded by love.
***
366 words
It is easy, I think, when relationships end to not see beyond that to where the love lies because it is not romantic love or desire and we put such a lot of stock in that. The grand gesture, the big feels, the all-devouring obsession.
To that, I say, "Bollocks"(in the nicest possible way, more like defiance in the face of longing).
Look to where it is, not to where it's gone.
Because it is there.
Thanks for stopping by! If you did read this, please do drop a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
93/366
About the Creator
Rachel Deeming
Mum, blogger, crafter, reviewer, writer, traveller: I love to write and I am not limited by form. Here, you will find stories, articles, opinion pieces, poems, all of which reflect me: who I am, what I love, what I feel, how I view things.
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Comments (5)
Even when we have nothing to give or any room in our hearts to receive it, it is there.
You write about people and relationships with such startling clarity and perception. I don’t know how you can make a reader care about your characters in so few words. BRAVO!
Ah, this is wonderful. "Look to where it is, not to where it's gone." I love that sentiment.
I agree with Dharrsheena, this is a beautiful story that dares to look beyond, ‘What about me?” It’s hard to imagine anything more heartwarming than a happy baby! 🥰
Yes, love doesn't always have to be romantic. This was such a beautiful story!