North Carolina Bears Witness

Melody slammed the door,

shaking the framed family

photos on the oak walls.

Perhaps she’d melt like

a witch in a downpour

of palpable pain.

Quivering in a white nightgown—

Heaven pelted—

a downpour of daggers.

North Carolina bears witness—

Melody had it in her to scream

tirades amid a disagreement—

cascaded slurred speech

like a driver with too much to drink—

a slip of the tongue

pulled me to the floor,

elbows rested on my knees,

and my head in my hands,

eyes welled.

Mom told me about getting married this young—

it won’t be fun—not at first—

not until you figure out who you are.

“I told you so” echoed

through my thought patterns.

I loved Melody—

have since 2003.

This whole marriage thing was brand new, though.

Maneuvering landmines and eggshells

had become a part-time job—

for which I deserved overtime.

A goddamn—

the rain.

We must have a leak!

I lifted my chin, eyes on Melody.

“Dude, you forgot to lock the backdoor, genius,”

she said, sipping tonic water.

Her long lashes fluttered, still dotted with tears.

“Oops.”

Melody poured water

on the chest of her nightgown.

“Kind of like a wet T-shirt contest, right?”

She winked and bit her bottom lip.

I laughed.

“Calling your mother stupid

wasn’t my best moment.”

Melody sat beside me,

laying her head on my shoulder.

I laughed,

recalling moments

when I spoke ill of my mother.

“I call her stupid all the time.”

I reached to rub her back.

“And you made me feel bad for…”

I gave her a look.

Melody lifted her hands halfway

and dropped them by her sides.

“Right…”

She sighed and relaxed her gaze.

“I never call your mother stu—”

“Watch it,” she said,

cocking back her arm,

fist at the ready.

“Whatever,” I said, laughing.

“Don’t believe me?” Melody joked.

“I’ll bust your face, buddy.”

“You and what army?”

Melody inched closer.

“We should be ourselves.”

“Easier said than done, but that goes for you, too.”

I said, nudging my finger into her comfort zone.

“Works for me,” Melody said,

shaking my hand

as though she’d orchestrated the chain of events

for this conclusion.

“Married, and unshakable—”

“Weathering life’s storms.”

Melody grinned. “We’re unstoppable.”

Dark funnel clouds departed for an afterlife,

leaving bright days ahead.

By Andy Cooper

From: United States

X: AC0040