Unravelling Oliver

by Liz Nugent

I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.

Friends are just people who remind you of your failings. I have several acquaintances.

My wife had finally brought out the worst in me. It was most unexpected. I had always been fond of her, in my way. She was a marvellous cook, for example, after all the gourmet cuisine courses I made sure she attended. Also, she could be very athletic in bed, which was nice. It is terribly sad to think of such things now, considering her current state.

She just accepted whatever attention I gave her, and then withdrew into the background without complaint when I did not require her presence.

Oh, no. My father was a paedophile priest? Oh, no. What has this to do with me?

He used her as his slave? Is that it? What has this to do with me?

Of course he slept with her. She offered herself. And then he was ashamed. What does this have to do with me?

Truth can cause more pain than lies, I think. Some secrets are best left as secrets.

You don’t have to love a person. You can love the idea of a person. You can idealize them and turn them into the person you need.