The Widow: A Short Story | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

The Widow: A Short Story

"She took a deep breath and started the car. This was the right decision."

1179
The Widow: A Short Story
Pexels

"Elderidge," she said to the stout, red-faced man sitting behind the decrepit metal desk at the DMV.

"My husband," she continued. "He died last year so I need to change the last name on my driver's license."

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said, not glancing up from the stack of papers she had handed him moments ago.

Silence.

"You'll need to sign here, here and here," he said, highlighting the empty blanks.

She paused, not sure if she wanted to do this anymore. Everything was going too fast. She didn't really want to change her name from Brown to Elderidge; from married to maiden; from happily in love to widowed.

Unwilling to wait for her decision, the man pointed to the three blanks on the page and shoved a slightly chewed ballpoint pen into her shaking hands.

D A W N B....

"Shi..." she shut her mouth before the defining syllable of the word could escape. Embarrassed, she quickly tried to cross out the 'B' and begin again.

"My wife died of cancer a little over a year and a half ago."

She looked up from her trembling hands, meeting the cloudy green eyes of the man behind the desk.

"I miss her every day. Don't expect that feeling to go away, just know that it will become easier to live with. Not much, but it will."

Her eyes began to fill with tears and she quickly averted them from his, noticing for the first time his shiny gold name tag that had 'Christopher' engraved in large block letters.

"Thank you, Christopher."

She signed the rest of the blanks and stuffed the papers into his wrinkled hands.

"I have to get to work," she said as she checked her watch. She was running behind; her shift at the hospital started in 30 minutes and she wanted to have enough time to grab a coffee from Starbucks before spending the next eight hours pricking people with needles and listening to the other ER nurses gossip.

"Your new license will arrive in seven to 10 business days. Use this as your temporary license until then," he said handing her a piece of paper.

She walked out without saying goodbye, terrified he would try to offer her more words of advice. Joe passed away 11 months ago. His sweet scent—a mixture of patchouli and mint mouthwash—had left their apartment months ago, but Dawn found other ways to keep him alive. She spends her Saturday evenings eating Chinese takeout in the parking lot of the laundromat where they used to do laundry together every over Wednesday morning. She eats blueberries and cream oatmeal every morning, which she hates but he loved. She wears the purple blouse he bought her when she takes her parents to The Cheesecake Factory every Tuesday. She even wears his wedding band on her left thumb.

When she made it back to her car, she cupped her face in her hands, unsure if she should laugh or cry. She glanced at the piece of paper Christopher handed her and realized for the second time that her name was no longer Brown. Except this time, it was staring her right in the face.

"Elderidge," she said to herself. The name she had called her's for the first 23 years of her life seemed so foreign now. She missed Joe but keeping his last name hurt more than changing it. She took a deep breath and started the car. This was the right decision.




Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

183427
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

10017
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454414
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24453
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments