“Z” is for “Zen”

On By MarquessaIn Fiction
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

 

Peaceful, relaxed and zen.

Those were three feelings that I never thought I would ever feel again. And you can’t blame me after everything that happened.

So…what did I tell Gaby and Becky?

Well, I told them exactly what YOU would have told them – that they didn’t kill Dex and that they shouldn’t feel guilty since he was such an awful monster. I convinced them that Dex had brought the entire situation onto himself.

If he hadn’t called Becky, she never would have gone to his apartment. If they hadn’t had that a ferocious argument, Becky would never have forgotten her take-out at his place. And no one had forced Dex to eat take-out that wasn’t even his.

“Ahogado el niño, tapando el pozo.”

Yeah, after a child drowns, they close the well, right? At least I managed to convince them to let sleeping dogs lie and in this case, leave a dead Dex alone and cold in the ground.

But of course, I couldn’t take my own advice and it didn’t help when Dex’s mother called me months later on the eve of his birthday to have dinner with her. I couldn’t refuse Abigail. She had always been a sweetheart to me but Dex had always made her out to be a witch.

I should probably give you a little more context. Dex’s parents were divorced soon after they adopted him, his siblings (the biological children) were much older than him and they lived out of the country and Dex had always complained about being unloved. I assumed that she wanted to have company with someone who was close to him on that day and the closest person was me. I had to suck it up and roll with it. When I asked how she was coping, she said that she was doing okay.

“You know, Dex was always a difficult child growing up. And he became a difficult man to be around. I want to thank you for putting up with him. It couldn’t have been easy for you. And I know that you were special to him because he only brought a few girlfriends to meet our family.”

I was surprised yet not surprised. Maybe all of his other girlfriends had known better to run faster and sooner than me. Unsure of what to say, I deflected the conversation.

“At what age did you realize that Dex had such a severe allergy to nuts?”

Abigail frowned at me as she poured me a glass of wine. “What are you talking about dear?”

“I’m talking about Dex’s allergy to nuts.”

She shook her head as if she was frustrated. “Oh! Don’t tell me that’s what he told you too! I don’t know why that boy keeps… I mean, why he kept telling everyone that.”

“What?! I…I… don’t understand! What are you saying?”

“Cara, I’m saying that Dex isn’t…I mean, he wasn’t allergic to nuts. He didn’t tell you the truth.”

I know what you’re thinking…WTF right?

Well, this is almost the end of getting this all off of my chest but I have to stop here.

Maybe, just maybe if I’m online later, I’ll tell you about it.

Cara

Bonus: There is a short epilogue to “Zen” that I will likely post here..to wrap up a few loose ends in this little story.

All Rights Reserved ©2018 Marquessa Matthews. 

50 thoughts on ““Z” is for “Zen””

      1. I don’t know… It’s 1:46am and I just finished writing it. I’m okay with it… but not thrilled. But I’m out of time and I don’t want to post this last one later than all the others. I’ve been so good about getting them all posted on time (on time to me, I mean)…

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    2. I think this is why I can’t remember the ending.. I don’t know if I have even read it..
      I stand by earlier comment.. best cliffhanger! I can’t wait (again.. lol)

      Congratulations on completing the A-Z challenge!!

      And I have to tell you, you inspire me to write better! Like unconsciously things slip in. While I was rereading this story, I noticed how aspects of mine stand similar to yours.. the ominous sayings… mine started off with it xD and the more evident epipen xD

      Thank you, for being you and for writing such amazing stories that have me hooked!!

      Z is for Zeal
      https://thedreamgirlwrites.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/zeal/

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  11. NOOO! How could you just leave me hanging like that?! I’m pretty sure I’m already a subscriber to your email list. *frantically searches through inbox* Have you posted the bonus installment yet?
    P.S. I still need to finish my story. I will…I promise…

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  14. OMG. I loved this series. Please make sure that you let us know when it is shared because I need to find out what the heck killed him. Also, did you ever send the update to last year’s A to Z? I’m a subscriber.

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    1. THANK YOU T! You should have the password for what killed Dex in your email newsletter. I will email you the password for Just Desserts just in case. 😊 And no, I only made a small dent in last year – figuring out how to create a cover for it and want beta readers…my June projects!

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  15. Oh my! I’m going to have to start at the beginning and re-read some parts and catch up on them before going to the Epilogue. Great story.
    I was on the mailing list but didn’t see the email for the password for the Epilogue so I subscribe again. I hope that’s okay.

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  16. Haha. And you know what, I was thinking this shortly after I read the last installment! Cuz folks with severe allergies typically know when they’re eating something they can’t have. I was thinking to myself, “Something feels off.” Lol.

    “Cara, I’m saying that Dex isn’t…I mean, he wasn’t allergic to nuts. He didn’t tell you the truth.”

    I know what you’re thinking…WTF right?”

    I’m not even surprised, but now I need the loose ends tied. *Patiently waiting*

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