Too Much

What do you do when someone you love confesses something so big you think you might explode with the information? Peri wondered as she stumbled home from Graphic Design. The day was too much to carry.

Marc had alluded to a great love over the past few months. He mentioned her again at lunch.

"You still need to tell me that story," Peri said pointing her fork at him.

Marc began by describing Rachel at 5 years old, at ten and at fifteen. Then came the explaination of the fateful night - to rely on cliche - involving deception, infidelity, an accident, and demise.

Halfway through his narrative, Peri'd stopped eating and focused solely on him. He was blaming himself for a choice someone else had made - a fatal mistake. He was damning his love and his future happiness. Peri wanted to take him home and take care of him - promising everything was going to be alright - but he wasn't a stray dog. If the story of her past hadn't proved that love is a fickle mistress, then nothing she could say now would make any difference. What comfort did she have to offer?