The Newlyweds

Marriage must fight constantly against a monster which devours everything: routine.
― Honoré de Balzac

dijon

“Look! That couple from the hotel.”

I followed her gaze. We’d seen them almost daily since we’d been in France. We guessed they were perhaps on a second honeymoon.

“They don’t look happy,” I said.

“No, they don’t,” she said, squeezing my hand. “Should we go over?”

“Absolutely not. No way should we get in the middle of a domestic squabble.”

The man began to yell. He snatched the map from the woman and stormed around the corner. The woman stood there, perhaps crying.

“I’m going over,” my wife said.

“Honey, please. If she needs help, she can ask us.”

 

19 comments

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  1. micklively

    I have a friend who likes to intervene (she knows who she is!). It makes me cringe but she seems to get away with it. I’m sure someone will slap her one day.
    Good piece.

  2. gahlearner

    Ah, affairs like this are such an awkward mixture of pity, embarrassment, compassion, mingling, taking sides, making things worse… I guess most of us can relate. Good story, and I love th quote, too.

  3. Kalpana solsi

    Maybe they were squabbling over the topic of the place of interest to visit. Both may have differed with each other.

  4. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist

    Thought provoking piece and possibly not unusual in a marriage. Should one offer a friendly face or not? A smile never hurt anyone and if she wants to talk to a smile let it go from there. But I know my husband would say – don’t meddle.

  5. storydivamg

    De Balzac certainly was right about marriage. It does seem to be the mundane that chokes out the romance. You put together a nice story to accompany it. Good work.

    MG

  6. liz young

    I#m with the wives. Just the offer of a tissue might make all the difference to the yellee’s day – and the sympathetic honeymooner will regret it all day if she doesn’t make that offer.

Don't just stand there.