Abigail and Abe

A Quiet Life Together

Abigail loved to work. She could sit from 8 to 8 without getting up, taking just one or two one-minute bathroom breaks and 20 minutes for lunch, sitting at the table.

After work, it was making dinner, then TV, lying down on the couch for three hours, then sleep.

Abe, on the other hand, did not like sitting. When he worked, he stood. He was fidgety. Sometimes he'd sit, stand, sit, stand, sit, stand, then go for long walks, observing, admiring, roaming.

He loved to walk by the river. You could still hear the cars there, but not as much.

Sometimes Abe would convince Abigail to go for a walk. Sometimes Abigail would convince Abe to watch TV.

Abe wanted to set out for good, to leave the crowded city once and for all.

Abigail wanted to work.

They already had enough money to do anything they wanted, but work was what Abigail wanted to do more than anything else.

Abe went to the doctor. He found out he did not have much more time to live. Five years at most, probably two to three, possibly only one.

"I'm not stopping you from going anywhere," exclaimed Abigail. "If you want to go, go."

Abe had always dreamed of being free with Abigail, living from place to place, seeing the world, experiencing life.

He waited for Abigail, stayed in the city through the cold winters and hot summers.

He nestled on the floor by Abigail's feet as she tapped away at the computer from 8 to 8.

Abe did his walks, but didn't wander too far.

A year passed, then another. The doctors had been just about right. It took three years for Abe to die.

He died while watching a TV show with Abigail.

Abigail buried Abe, then went back to work.

A story by Pemba Umoja