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Thin Blue Line.... |
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Joe was distracted. His colleagues noticed the change in him and commented amongst themselves and ,out of earshot, speculated on what could possibly have ruffled the feathers of 'Mister Cool' ? |
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Sixteen floors below, Cassie was staring unseeing out of her office window. Her mind was spinning, trying to take in the enormity of her situation. She really couldn't decide... She knew that this could be a life-changing decision, she knew the possibilities were endless and she also knew that she had to make a choice. She didn't want to make that choice. She knew all about the little sayings, they had peppered her life from the outset 'you reap what you sow' |
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'nothing ventured, nothing gained' |
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that was an old favourite...there had been so many over the years. |
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Joe had spent the best part of the morning trying to figure out what he had done wrong, but the answer eluded him. He tried to think back over the past weeks, months even, for some sign of a sin committed...even one omitted, but still nothing came to him. There had to be something.... |
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Cassie knew she had been irrational lately. She hadn't liked herself very much recently, knowing she was trampling on other people's feelings, seemingly uncaring. It was out of character but she just couldn't help herself. She felt tetchy, irritable, just plain out of sorts...nothing was right these days, there was no pleasing her. She was troubled. |
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Joe still couldn't concentrate. He had to sort out this uncomfortable thing with Cassie. She was his whole life. He loved her more than anything, he had loved her from the first time he set eyes on her in the schoolyard when they were just seven years old. The day Cassie agreed to marry him, he had cried...and she had teased him, but he didn't care. She was his Cassie and that was all that mattered. As long as he had Cassie, all was well with his world. |
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Cassie still sat staring into space, the ringing phone on her desk unheard. Choices, decisions...why did nobody warn her that being a 'grown up' was so hard? When she was a little girl, life had been so simple then. The things she wanted most in life were hers for the asking. 'Ask and ye shall receive' |
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another family favourite...and for those things at first denied, well that could be overcome with a trembling lip, a splash of tears. She knew that wasn't going to work this time. |
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Joe could stand it no longer and he picked up the phone and punched in the numbers that would connect him to his beloved Cassie. He drummed his manicured fingers on his desk rhythmically as he listened to the connection tones and as the ringing continued unanswered he frowned in frustration. |
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Cassie rose from her seat, trancelike. She opened her office drawer and removed a white wrapped package. Slipping it into her bag she left the room by the side door, ignoring the ringing phone on her desk. She moved along the corridor, a purposeful look on her face and she entered the door at the end of the corridor, closing it firmly behind her. |
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Joe couldn't bear not being able to reach his wife and he decided to walk the stairs to the fourth floor where her office was situated. He would surprise her with a kiss. |
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Cassie leaned her forehead on the cool white tiles, her heart was racing, her mouth dry. She closed her eyes for what seemed to her to be the longest time. She forgot to breathe out and felt the dizzying effects ...whooo, she exhaled ...inhaled slowly, counted to five and opened her eyes.... |
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Joe pushed open the swing doors at the end of the corridor just in time to see Cassie emerge from the door opposite. She looked pale and there were tears streaming down her face. He rushed over to her and took her gently in his arms. He tilted her face up to meet his and looked questioningly at her. |
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Cassie opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She looked into the face of her husband, a face distorted by the sparkles of her tears. He looked at her with such love and concern and she knew that her choice had been made. She smiled weakly at him and raised her hand, opening her fist as she did |
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Joe felt the tears prickle in his eyes, nose and throat. He thought his heart would burst as he looked at his wife. Through her tears she smiled and held out her hand. His face lit up when he saw that in her hand she held the sign of the long awaited thin blue lines. |
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Back |
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