MMC #13

 

Yay!  At long last, here is a new MMC.  I actually wrote this about two months ago but yesterday I finally received the results.  Anyway...Here 'tis!

 

“Remember what I told you, Mary,” he had said to her one tender spring morning. He gave her his hand, his gentle gaze searching hers for confirmation; “I know you are a clever girl.” he was silent for so long she thought he was finished. Suddenly, his eyes sprung back open. He stared at her, his expression laced with urgency, “Here” With this final word, the old man closed his tired eyes and opened them no more.

She bent down towards him and rested her head on his chest. The smell of his old-spice tickled her nose and she could still feel the warmth of his embrace. After a moment of silence broken only by her gentle cries, she pushed herself away.
There he was, helping her to her feet. “Shh,” he soothed, turning her to face him, “It’s going to be okay.”

She took a quivering breath, “Oh, Steven. Are you sure?”

He reached over, gently brushing away her tears, “I’m sure,” he stepped back for a moment and peered over her shoulders to her grandfather’s resting form. “Are you positive he’s gone?”
She nodded, confused, “Of course.”

“Good,” he smiled, but it was a stranger’s smile, “This has worked out beautifully.”

“Steven,” she stepped back, “What’s happening?”

“Oh, Darling,” he reached over to the nightstand, retrieving John’s weathered journal.

“You should have headed your grandfather’s words long ago.” In one swift movement, he smacked her across the head. She was flung across the room and landed against the mirror on the wall, shattering its clear glass. 

“I’m glad we got married,” he sneered, “after today, the fortune is mine.” 

A single tattered leaf floated down beside her. She now understood her grandfather when he said: "The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies."