Some People

People always said that James would break her heart. Madison had said that was nonsense. She’d thought that he would never hurt her but when he said goodbye she felt that her heart was torn in two. 1

People always said James would leave her. They said he would go one day without warning and leave her with nothing but an aching need that could not be fulfilled. That was his type, they said. He wasn’t a bad person, he just couldn’t help it. 2

It was the way he was. Sweet and impulsive. That’s how her mother had referred to him once, long summers ago when their relationship had been new. Everyone had been warning Madison, even then. 3

He’ll leave you. People like that always do. He’ll hurt you. He wont mean to but that wont ease the pain.4

Maybe there was some truth in that. He had left her. Madison’s days were empty without James and her heart ached with need. 5

But She thought they were wrong; thought they really didn’t know him at all. 6

He’ll move on, they had said. He’ll find somebody else. That had been wrong. James had found no one. He wanted no one but his wife, his love.7

They had said that the relationship would not last the year. It had lasted nine years, 5 months and a day. She didn’t regret a moment of it. 8

People said James had no patience but he had told her frequently about the patience he’d learnt as she clasped his hand tightly and begged him not to leave. James said he knew she had the patience of a saint, she’d lived with him long enough to need it. 9

People said that James would get bored. Somehow she could never imagine things getting boring even if they both lived for eternity. That was the promise that Madison had made to James. Together for eternity, she had said. He’d smiled weakly and told her he would wait for her and suddenly she felt like the impatient one. The one that was used to getting her own way, someone selfish enough to ask for time that could not be given no matter how much they needed it or how much they wanted to grant it to her and she chastised herself silently and swore she wouldn’t cry.10

People always said it would end in tears. Perhaps it did. He had held them back so bravely, put on a facade for his heartbroken lover. He wasn’t scared, he said. He’d lived his life. He’d loved her and she had loved him unconditionally, despite what people said. That was all he’d ever wanted and more. 11

Some people said that a part of Madison had died with James that night. Some people were right. 12