It Made My Day

Flash Fiction

It Made My Day

Sitting at my table, tea cup in hand, staring at the picture on the wall, as I did every night. What was it about that picture? I asked myself every night as well.

The picture was of five members of a family. Not mine. I really wasn’t sure who they were. Their names were there scribbled on the back, but it wasn’t enough to locate them or who they were on the internet. I’m not that good at internet, but also had not been interested enough to try getting help.

The picture had come from a relative of my husband. The relative gone now, and my husband too, though he was not dead. I just wished he was… When he left me, he left the picture, likely, didn’t give it a thought more than actually leaving it here. Once he’d cleared out, all that was left was considered mine, according to the divorce settlement.

Suddenly curious again, I got up and took it down so I could get the names scribbled on the back. It was obviously a family. Might as well know who now that it belonged to me.

The paper on the back was very old. The scribbled names had torn a bit and were slouchy. As I straightened them out to read the names, I felt something behind the backing. Checking, it turned out to be a small envelope, and inside… a key. A safety deposit key, and from the bank just down the street.

I never told my ex about it. He was quite surprised when I decided to sell the house, and take a six-month cruse around the world. He actually asked me how I could afford it. I told him it was because I got rid of him.

It made my day.