Prompt: Conversation with my spouse | Word count: 1200 | Genre: Fiction
I sat on the veranda with my ancient laptop. I have been sitting here in sorrow for a long time – just staring. It has been six months since my mom died, and I felt bereft. Everything had revolved around her. If I went out, it was to see her, or go somewhere with her; so there didn’t seem to be any need to go out. William had bought me a landline phone, that had a mobile handset, so I could chat outside when my mom used to phone, but now all was silent. I have been so lonely.
Things had changed last week. My sister had too many work things to do, so she convinced me to take one over. It involved selling items off a website, so people would phone me. I was having trouble keeping things professional as my laptop was so old with a very slow memory. I spent my time outside, as I smoked, and my husband William didn’t. I was outdoors with the sun shining on my dark screen. I could hardly see, and if I wanted to open another programme my computer would say: “You have too many things open and the memory is stuffed so please restart your computer”. It’s hard to give good service when you can’t see, and the computer moans at you.