By Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Tracy thought quietly about her soon-to-be husband Derek. She hated his narcissism and self-absorption. He oozed charm, with his sky blue eyes and masculinity, but she knew there was no spark.
Her father, David, met Derek at a board meeting and took an immediate liking to his money. When David mentioned he had a single daughter, Derek, intrigued, immediately asked if he could meet her.
Tracy remembered that day.
He came with a box of fine chocolates and two dozen red roses. Money wasn’t important to Tracy; she wasn’t impressed.
But for family, especially her father, she’d pay the ultimate price.
Why? Hard to understand or feel sympathy for a modern young woman ruining her life to satisfy her father’s–what? Greed? Desperation?
There was a little waste of word-count that could have been used to hint at why Tracy feels compelled to do this. But still hard to work up compassion for her open-eyed compliance.
I thought the idea of 101 words was to allow the reader to fill in the details. What is the point of having the picture completely drawn. To each his own, I guess. I thought it was a complete character study.
“The marriage of convenience” is an age-old theme; you’ve explored it well in a modern day setting. Nice job,
Lisa!
The things we feel we have to do to please others….and find out the hard way we didn’t at all.