Abandoned Raincoat

She brushed her hair over her face. Just enough to hide her left eye, still swollen from the night before. Glancing back at the unfamiliar image, she smiled in spite of herself. It’s quite remarkable how much makeup can cover. Though she isn’t proud of herself, she is pleased with her powers of deception. Hiding the remnants of the previous evening, the dark eyeliner and concealer made her appear to be a relatively normal version of herself, albeit a bit overdone for lunch with friends. She felt the extra effort was necessary though, given their powers of perception.

She arrived at their usual table a bit early. In part, to prepare herself for the ensuing conversation. Nothing was off limits with these girls. Especially not matters of the heart…or body. She found that a pre-emptive gin and tonic was quite useful when preparing her offense.

Cut to: two hours and three bottles of wine later. The gloves were off, so to speak. All the effort she had gone through to disguise her pain had been futile. They had seen her cover up for what it really was--a meager attempt to mask the anguish she was experiencing. They told her all the things she needed to hear. Everything she already knew, but didn't want to discuss. As if speaking it out loud somehow made it more real, more painful. Thankfully, that particular conversation was brief, as she made it very clear when her appreciation for advice was beginning to evolve into resentment.

She soon found herself in the midst of a very deep discussion about the functionality of a raincoat in winter. Yes…it protected one’s clothes from moisture, but it did little to protect the body from the cold of winter. It was necessary, no matter the quality of raincoat, to have other protection, something more comforting against the cold.

She smiled to herself at the irony of the discussion. She had a real life version of the raincoat…someone who provided the illusion of protection against the elements, but who ultimately failed to provide any substantive function. A coat that provides no warmth or comfort is nothing more than a transparent layer of material. It is of no real value...hence--meaningless. Just as he is. And like the raincoat she dutifully hangs in her closet, she keeps him around as well. Just in case he might one day fulfill a purpose.