Resentment

Eva received a few marriage proposals that she rejected or perhaps it was the men that were backing off. She had one non-negotiable condition for saying yes: she would never bear a child. 

Eva’s mother, Trinity, liked to tell her how her dad and her formed a couple until Eva was born in 1960 on Thanksgiving Day. Her father felt useless while Trinity was in the labor room getting ready for delivery. During this time, he went through an array of emotions. His joy switched to uncertainty, his excitement to anxiety, all while recalling bad jokes too often heard from playboy friends: “Fatherhood is an act of faith”. 

When Eva was brought to him, he seemed indifferent both to her and his tired wife. He performed a methodical examination of the little creature before him and felt no real connection to her. He anxiously searched for the features resembling his.  Not my nose, my mouth or my forefront, he noted. “She is not mine” he dropped out loud as he stormed out. 

Eva grew up without a father and with a mother who despised her for being the reason her husband walked away. Eva would not risk putting a child into this world until she knew they would be unconditionally loved. She could never have confirmation of this ahead of time and therefore condemned herself to a lonely life. It was cruel that something she could not control, like the shape of a nose, could determine the love of a dad. 

11 thoughts on “Resentment”

  1. I just read this and found it to be so deep in such few words. Love it! Keep on awakening our thoughts with your beautifully crafted texts.

  2. Compliments Agnes ,you did it again by captivating your readers with such an emotional story. So well written , thank you for sharing .

  3. Very poignantly chosen to have Eva be born on Thanksgiving Day.
    You know I like your writing, dear cousin.
    This is added to the list.
    Bisous.

  4. Your text undoubtedly can start discussions, arguments and conversations while provoking a whole array of strong emotions…and it will hit home for more people than you can imagine! Although, as you said, this was written for a short story contest, I wish and hope you will gift your readers with more of your beautiful writing on this very realistic subject! I would truly love to read another chapter and to find out about Eva, Trinity…and the “no name” father…

  5. What a sad and unfortunately true story…
    Very well written…
    Nowadays we have the DNA …
    But I feel for the hole family… the dad who feels nothing for the poor baby… the mother who have probably no idea that her husband is leaving her …
    Well done Agnes
    I hope that you will write the conclusion of the why’s

  6. So well written, captivating from the first to the last word. Sadly, probably not a fiction. We all know someone whose life were adversely impacted by similar events.
    Agnes, congratulations. Always a joy to read your stories.

    1. This text was written for a 250 word short story contest. It was a challenge to make it short 😂 Thanks for your appreciation. Glad you enjoyed reading it.

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