Silence Speaks

When you've been married a long time 267-word flash

Silence Speaks

“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Wasn’t my silence enough?”
“But I’m not a mind reader.”
“You don’t have to be.”
“If you don’t tell me, I can’t know.”
“How often do I go silent about anything? How often?”
“Well, not often I guess.”
What do I think about stewing in silence?”
“You always said if something is worrying you, I should be worried too.”
So, that means?”
“If you are quiet, you’re not worried.”
“Exactly.”
“You should have mentioned it anyway.”

“So, you could worry for me?”
“Well, yes.”
“If I’m not worried, I don’t want to end up worrying about you worrying about me.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t repeat what I just said.”
“Still, I wish you’d told me.”
“Why?”
“So, I would know you weren’t worried.”
“Would that keep you from worrying on my behalf?
“No, not really.”
“I don’t want you to worry because I love you.”
“I worry more when you don’t tell me.”
“Why?”

“Because sometimes I think you don’t worry when you should.”
“Take my word for it, I know when to worry!”
“A worry shared is a worry halved.”
“It can also be a worry doubled or even tripled, you know?”
“I can handle worrying about you just fine.”
“But I can’t handle you worrying about me. So, I worry more.”
“Is there a way neither one of us could worry about the other?”
“I doubt it.”
“It’s part of caring and loving, right?”
“Indubitably.”
“Word snob!”
“Worry wart!
Insults go on, until we are both roaring with laughter and hugging.
“Can you tell we’ve been married since 1967?”
“We have? Horrors!’