Sweat beaded his upper lip. His tongue flicked out to remove the secretion. Like a snake, she thought.
He reached to the clutter on the side table, waving the cocktail napkin tagged and bagged in plastic. Unblinking eyes transfixed hers. “Where were you last night?”
“Without me to look after you, you’d die.”
A wrinkled hand slithered over the bedclothes. The strength of his grip was astounding, crushing her bones. “You’re a serpent in my bosom. Just like all you people.”
She allowed no sign of pain to show. “What did you want for breakfast?”
.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
I wonder about his back story – did he treat his wife like this? Was he badly betrayed to make him act this way? Intriguing. Sounds like the care provider needs to have a lot of patience…
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Thanks, Iain. She certainly needs to nurture her power
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I think she’s got the measure of him. There’s only going to be one winner here, unless he changes his will.
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He has cunning. She has endurance. They may be evenly matched
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A match made slightly lower than heaven.
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They’ve found a way of rubbing along together
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Hmm this is why women poison their husbands. Well told.
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Thanks so much, Tannille
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Intriguing, Neil.
I thought she was his wife until ‘all you people’.
But I couldn’t fit the napkin with a carer…
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Their relationship is unconventional
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Thanks, Neil, I laughed aloud at that!
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Excellent writing Neil. Beautifully crafted. Well done.
Derek
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Thanks so much, Derek
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The tension and underlying hatred are clear. An intriguing piece of writing!
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Thanks so much, Linda
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haunting… shivers me’ timbers. Great writing! Had me wanting to pull my hand away from that slithering one. 🙂
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Thanks so much. That’s high praise
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Powerful writing, which allowed one to develop strong images.
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Thanks so much, michael
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Nursing is a noble profession. The wrinkled hand slithering is great description, Neil.
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There’s a serpent theme running through this. Thanks, Jade
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Ah! Just re-read it. Even if he’s bedridden and dependent his reptilian ways are intact.
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Urgh. This leaves a dark feeling. I mean that in the nicest way, of course!
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Dark was what I was going for
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He’s certainly venomous. I admire her composure. Excellent Neil.
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If she shows a moment’s weakness, she’s lost
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Brrr! You conjure up some very graphic images there, Neil. This is a situation where “Hell is other people”.
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Thanks so much, Penny
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Not the most amiable of relationships.
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No, indeed, but there’s a comforting familiarity about it to each of them
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The ‘you people’ bit makes me think it isn’t a family or marital relationship. He is a mean one for sure.
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He might, of course, have been making a racial slur towards a wife
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Yep that happens too, unfortunately
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Oh this…. this is powerful. The mood, characterisation in so few words… very well done
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Thanks so much, Laurie.
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A tension fuelled moment where she is trapped in a controlling relationship.
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And yet, she exercises her own measure of control
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Composed fear, perhaps.
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Transfixing scene. The play for power between them is like a game, though one is more of a “serpent” than the other. Two implacable wills tied together, with death the ultimate victor.
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Thanks so much, Dora
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Oh my… maybe in need of some marriage counseling? I think this is way beyond the ‘coffee’ fix! Enjoyed!
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Thanks so much, Roger
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I’m not sure where my comment went but it’s not here … 😟
I’ll just say BRAVO on this tale since my other comment might be in SPAM.
Ya just gotta go with the computer flow. 😄
Be Safe 😷 Isadora 😎
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Thanks so much, Isadora
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Your snake-like description of this cruel husband gave me the chills. But, I think she can hold her own. Great details!
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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If he’s fit enough to bag and tag a napkin, he’s fit enough to look after himself – she should leave.
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The ties that keep us with others can be very strong and very twisted
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i think in this case, she has the upper hand. he better watch out and behave. 🙂
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You may be right
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Does it make me sound cold-hearted to say she should leave him? Because, I think she should leave him. I would. I have – with caregivers and love. Love does mean being a doormat. Very true and well-written story though!
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does not mean being a doormat lol
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Of course she should leave him. But will she?
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Sounds like someone needs to write a sequel. 😉
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Already written, in every reader’s mind
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