Tonight At Ten
Bring the Corkscrew
By: DeEtta Miller
Our dream cabin was supposed to be a new beginning. Laced with quiet moments under stars, toasting our escape from humanity. Ted and I had been married for what felt like a lifetime. He promised, as we signed the sales contract, that his binge drinking, and emotional distance would be healed by the wilderness and solitude on the shore of a small pond.
Who knew that sunbathing could become a spectator sport? I waved at the handsome man across the pond as I awkwardly wrapped my body in Ted’s robe. It was a habit of Ted’s to drink himself to sleep every evening, as I warmed myself in the days last rays. And so, a ritual was established. Handsome man in binoculars, watching sunbathing lady.
Today while Ted slept off his booze, handsome man waved a sign. “Tonight at 10:00.” Sunbathing was exchanged for message signs and blowing kisses months ago, as snow and ice hardened a path for our meeting.
The full moon illuminated his footprints as handsome man crossed the ice, wine bottle in hand. I had brought two glasses but forgot the corkscrew. Rushing back in, I searched everywhere, but couldn’t find a corkscrew!
Returning to the dock, I could not see handsome man anywhere. Just a whole.
Fearing the worst, I retreat to the fishing shed in tears. Curling up in a corner to cry, I am poked by Ted’s wet, ice-covered auger, resting on a corkscrew…
About the Creator
DeEtta Miller
Found my "Voice" as a college student of forty-seven. Once a memoir was written, fiction, poetry and non-fiction became my passions.
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