r/shortscarystories
10 hr. ago
KieranWriter
Family Photo
The father stood at the front of the
family photo and beamed a huge smile.
The kids were seated in front of
the father on little stools.
His wife Deborah was at his side
and he had his arms around her.
The camera was an automatic one
the father had set before quickly
running to get in to the frame.
Click. Big smiles.
The father walked over to the camera.
Just one more. Click. Big smiles.
It was done. A perfect family portrait.
Get this up in a frame and he can take
it with him wherever he goes...
The father put the kids to their beds
and then his wife in front of the TV.
It was Desperate Housewives; her favourite!
It made the father smile.
Don’t worry dear, I’ll do the dishes.
I’ll load the washing. You just watch TV.
The father was a perfect husband. He did
everything that he said he would. A real
whizz around the house.
The house was sparkling
by the time he had finished.
There was a chime on Deborah’s phone.
It was her sister Mary
- Hey, not heard from you all day. You ok?
Deborah won’t mind, I will just shoot off a
short message so that Mary isn’t too alarmed.
- Hey all good, just watching TV, really tired.
Long day. Off to bed soon xx.
It’s fine. They look at each other’s phones all
the time. There’s trust in this relationship.
A reply from Mary
- OK call me tomorrow xx
The father thought for a moment, just a moment, a
flicker of worry, then replied
- sorry better I don’t, I’ve caught a bad sore throat.
The father went into the living room to Deborah and
gave her a big kiss on the forehead...
The next day, the father puts the frame up in
the hallway, it will be the first thing that people
will see when they walk into the house - the beautiful
family, everybody’s dream...
Then he spent about an hour mowing the lawn.
After everything around the house was sorted, the father
knew he could relax, finally relax and that the pressure
was on for anything unexpected visits, so they don't walk
into a dirty home...
He got into the car and took it out of the garage, turned it
around and hit the road heading out of suburbs and through the city.
He loved his family, he really did, but sometimes a man needs a change
and this father needs a fresh start. It wasn’t his first change of scenery.
He looked at the copy of the picture of his wife and kids on the dash
board and he felt a stab of pain...
If only he had taken that picture when they were still alive...