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Gambling

January 24, 2022 13 Comments

By Marie-Louise McGuinness

You wielded your blade and lanced my trust until, pus-like, it spilled from me in nausea and bile, and mucous-tinged tears, until my husk was hollowed and bare.

For the taste of dewy lips and buttermilk skin, you bartered with memories, fortified from twenty years of echoing laughter and the gap-toothed smiles of our children. Once cherished, they now seep, tainted, into muddy pools of disgust.

Your gamble lost and yet, it is me paying for her bitten silk pillows and your sweaty release with glares from our rudderless offspring; and you rest contentedly, slick and spent from your carnal delight.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Goldstone says

    January 24, 2022 at 7:14 am

    Wow! Brilliant.

    Reply
    • Marie-Louise McGuinness says

      January 24, 2022 at 8:10 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Kevin says

    January 24, 2022 at 9:53 am

    A truly powerful piece in few words-superb!

    Reply
    • Marie-Louise McGuinness says

      January 24, 2022 at 9:57 am

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  3. M says

    January 24, 2022 at 12:32 pm

    Absolutely genius!

    Reply
    • Marie-Louise McGuinness says

      January 24, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      Wow, thank you!

      Reply
  4. DRJaymz says

    January 24, 2022 at 1:48 pm

    The genius of wrath! Excellent.

    Reply
    • Marie-Louise McGuinness says

      January 24, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Susie Deslauriers says

    January 24, 2022 at 9:06 pm

    ML, great writing again. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
    • Marie-Louise McGuinness says

      January 25, 2022 at 12:42 am

      Thanks so much Susie!!

      Reply
  6. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    January 26, 2022 at 9:16 am

    Brilliantly written. A potent insight into the narrator’s feelings of disgust.

    Reply
    • Marie-Louise McGuinness says

      January 26, 2022 at 9:51 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Tony Grid says

    March 26, 2022 at 2:55 am

    You evidently kissed the Blarney-stone.

    Reply

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