A Moment In Time

Cassie sprawled in the thick underbrush of the woods trying not to move or swat at the biting mosquitoes. She had been there for hours, waiting, watching, and being very alone and quiet.

That didn’t matter because Cassie had gotten use to being alone. She had also gotten used to the quiet. It had taken awhile, but gradually she came to realize that quiet wasn’t so bad. Quiet was better than all of the lying and the arguing. She had decided that they should all have some “quiet.”

At first, Cassie had hurt and angry. “Why would he abandon me?” Then, she found at the truth. The truth was just beyond the edge of this thick forest she was hiding in. There he was, laughing and happy with his arms around another woman, while she lay in this forest all miserable and missing him.

“Well, no more!” Cassie whispered. She would not cry. She would not feel sorry for herself. Cassie watched as he moved out into the lawn with this woman who had stolen him away from here. She was the reason Cassie was now alone. Cassie cried, while she laughed.

Cassie squinted against the suns glare to watch their every move. He was getting ready to leave for work. Cassie knew the routine so well. The exact minute the exact way he had always left…except it used to be from her house.

Here it comes! She thought excitedly. She watched as he leaned closer to the woman he had left her for. At the precise moment the two of them kissed goodbye, Cassie raised the rifle and fired….