It’s dead, Bob,
she said haughtily,
as they sat in the living room
discussing their marriage.
You mean the large gray beast
on the floor?
He said with a curious smile.
No, Bob.
I mean the connection we once had.
It is no more.
But, sweetheart!
I love you!
Don’t throw it all away!
Forget it, Bob.
It’s dead,
and there is no going back.
I won’t accept your excuses anymore.
I won’t be charmed again.
I won’t allow you to manipulate me.
He stood up
so that he could see her
over the carcass in front of him.
He knew that she was serious this time.
He knew that no amount of talking
would make the beast come back to life.
He was resigned
to a life without her,
and the only remaining task
was how to remove the dead body
from the house
before they sold it
and split the proceeds.
His only regret
was her unwillingness to accept
the fact
that dead elephants
never rise up
and live again.
It couldn’t hurt to talk about it.
It would always be there,
between them,
blocking their view to each other
and gradually deteriorating.
He wondered whether all marriages
ended without ever dealing with the obvious.
