Worlds Apart

A tear rolled down Linda's face as she stared out the window off into the distance. How could this be happening to her? Just a few months ago she'd been so head over heels in love. She still was, but it was all going wrong.

A cloud of dust rose up behind the old truck as it sped off down the dirt driveway. Linda watched it from the window until it vanished in the distance leaving only a trail of dust that slowly settled and disappeared into nothing.

It was Michael's birthday and he was going to do one of his favorite things. He was going fishing. He felt relaxed and free out on the water, away from Linda's constant nagging. He was so sick of her telling him what to do and how to do it all the time. When they first started dating she said she would never try to change him. But, she did demand that he change his choice of underwear. The whitey tighties were switched out for boxer briefs later that very day.

Linda's face clinched in anger as she stared out the window. How could he be so childish? It was his birthday and she had the whole day planned. They were going to spend the day together going antique shopping and then look for houses for sale in her favorite neighborhoods. She knew that he didn't make enough money to afford the kind of place she liked but she was encouraging him to find a better paying job so they could live the lifestyle she wanted.

She knew exactly what she wanted in life and Michael seamed to only want to work on his truck, strum the guitar, and go fishing. She hated cooking and eating the fish he caught but, pretended to like it because it made him feel so proud of himself.

Michael parked his truck by the lake and grabbed the tackle box and fishing poles from the back. As he walked down the dock, he shook his head in wonder, "How could anyone like antique furniture so much," he thought. "They spend ten times more than it's worth for something old and fragile. Why not buy new furniture for much less that will last much longer?" Antiques belong in a museum for all he cared.

Linda dreamed of a life of luxury. She wanted to travel, see the world, meet interesting and diverse people. How could Michael want to stay in the place and do the same things everyday? In her opinion, it was just so boring. Life was made to live, learn, grow, and experience all you can.

Michael rowed the small boat across the water into his favorite cove on the north side of the lake. He cast the fishing line out over the water and slowly starting reeling it in. He didn't want the bait to sink too deep and get caught on the old fallen tree that was hidden below the surface of the water.

"Linda will always want more in life and she'll never be happy or content with me.", he thought as he sat quietly with his head bouncing lightly in rhythm with the tiny waves of the lake tossing the small boat. "I guess I'm just going to have to be patient with her."

Linda had no more patience left in her. She quickly climbed the stairs of the old house and stomped into the bedroom. She was so angry and could no longer put up with Michael's immature, small minded way of living. On her tippy toes she reached up to the high shelf in the closet and pulled down a suitcase. She threw it on the bed and, with her eyes full of tears, began filling it with clothes from the dresser and closet.

The fishing pole jerked violently in Michael's hands. His eyes lit up as he began reeling it in. It was a big one. He could feel it. Excitement flowed through his blood as he skillfully pulled in the awaited prize. As the fish emerged from the water, Michael grinned with pleasure from cheek to cheek. A large mouth bass about two feet long! He couldn't wait to bring it home for Linda to cook for dinner. What a birthday indeed!

Linda took one last look into the house as she headed out the door. The marigolds in the vase on the counter that Michael gave her two weeks ago were withered and dying. She wiped her eyes and headed out the door for the last time. She didn't know how, but she would find a way to live the life she wanted with or without Michael.

Driving back home in the afternoon sun, Michael decided to stop and get some flowers for Linda. She loved flowers and he liked seeing her smiling and happy as much as he enjoyed fishing. Marigolds were her favorite, so he got her more of those to replace the withered arrangement currently on the counter.

The taxi driver placed Linda's luggage in the trunk and slammed it shut. Linda was sitting in the backseat trying to hide her face as the tears fell down her cheeks. The yellow car drove off leaving a cloud of dust behind.

Michael gently slammed the door shut as he placed the flowers on the passenger seat of the truck. He looked down at the large mouth bass in the open cooler on the floorboard and smiled to himself thinking about how happy Linda will be when he gets home.