Driving Home From Sharon Poem by renato mascardo

He looked at the road after stealing a glance at her
She looked straight ahead avoiding his eyes
It was a routine between them when
Driving home from Sharon

The lull in their conversation had stretched
like a spring near its breaking point when she said
“Did I tell you that my ex tried to kill himself? ”
“No, you did not” he said still looking ahead
his hands caressing the steering wheel

“Well, my ex sister-in-law phoned me on my cell last night
I was rushing and ignored her first call but she kept
On calling that I finally answered my phone”
“What did she say? ” he asked flipping the sunscreen down
to block the rays of the descending sun
“She was so apologetic for bothering me but had no one
Else to talk to “she said as she stole a glance at him

“She said Dave’s wife caught him as he was about to hang
Himself” he saw her hands shake subtly as she told him this
“Did he go through with it? ” he asked
“I don’t know she was so vague about it. He was taken to
the hospital that’s what I know” her voice almost a whisper

The silence like the sun descended between them again
Her fingers flexing and stretching to a rhythm tattooed in her mind
“So how did you feel? How do you feel about it” he asked at last
“About what? ” she tried to delay her answer
“About Dave your ex trying to kill himself” he persisted
“Why do you ask? ” she asked as she thought about it

“I don’t know but perhaps I would have felt some guilt
If my former wife had committed suicide” he said this slowly
Trying to tiptoe through the minefield of his words
He looked at her profile trying to catch her glance in vain
“Forgive me for asking but did guilt touch you at all? ” he asked

“No, it’s been so long since he left my life that I felt no link
No responsibility no guilt at all” she stated distinctly
Almost defiantly. He cleared his throat, and pushed
“But tell me, did you feel any emotion at all? ”

She kept her silence for a dozen heartbeats, then said
“Relief. A sense of relief washed over me. I could have
Been the one who caught him in the act of hanging himself”
Releasing a deep sigh she looked at him inscrutably

“Yes, you’ve never been one who relishes to confront”
He said as he gave her a sad glance before turning right on Perry Lane
Both of them looking ahead and lost in their thoughts
Driving home from Sharon//