Member-only story
Truth Lies Between Silent and Spoken
My words won’t make a difference until you want to listen. Fixing you is something only you can do.
Each meal shared with them is the same. Different place, different food, same routine.
Gazing downward, my food is the recipient of just enough attention to distract my face from giving away my thoughts. Interrogation and counseling are not what brought my lunch companions to the table.
Listening as they spin tales about their husbands, I sit in silent contemplation of why they choose to live in a world of misery and abuse. Accusations of alcohol, infidelity, verbal abuse and psychological torment swirl around the restaurant table.
The plate in front of me is clean leaving nothing to tether my thoughts to silence. My focus breaks free and I feel compelled to understand.
“Does he know you feel this way? Have you talked to him about what he is doing?”
It took about two seconds for me to realize my thoughts had blurted out of my mouth. I don’t remember having given myself permission to speak.
The pausing of the group’s verbal frenzy is abrupt as eyes snap to me in surprise. I think they forgot I was at the table.
