A Story Told in Song: 01

A STORY TOLD IN SONG: 1

WOMAN, HAVE YOU GOT CHEATING ON YOUR MIND

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I thought I'd give the 750 word challenge a go.

For me it truly was a challenge as I like nothing better than exploring emotions and having to limit myself to 750 words to convey something as complex as love and betrayal required self-discipline...

... which I clearly lacked as I ended up doing two more instalments each of which is 750 words!

A Story Told In Song: 2 will be submitted one day after #1 and A Story Told In Song: 3 will be submitted the day after that again so hopefully they will appear on the Loving Wives New Release on consecutive days.

Thanks as always to my lover, my friend, my greatest supporter, Vandemonium1. I love you!

Happy Reading and I hope you enjoy my attempt.

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ANNABELLE UNCONSCIOUSLY SAT a little straighter in her chair. The moment her husband Phillip squeezed her hand, rose from his seat, and headed toward the stage she knew what was going to happen.

It was karaoke night and he was going to sing her a song. He often did. Experience told her every eye would be on her. She was going to be the envy of every woman in the pub. She loved it. Loved the attention. Loved the envy.

She wondered what he'd serenade her with tonight. Maybe, John Legend's All Of Me. She did so love that song. Or perhaps it would be a Richard Marx number. Phillip did a beautiful version of Now And Forever. Yes, her man could sing.

He'd sung the night they met, sung his marriage proposal, sung at their wedding and every anniversary since and regularly on nights out. She knew it was one of the ways he expressed his love. It made her feel special.

Phillip took the mic and paused, giving Annabelle a deep and meaningful stare. Annabelle shivered in anticipated pleasure.

Woman oh woman

Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind?

Annabelle frowned. She didn't recognise the opening bars of the number. This wasn't at all the usual style of song Phillip chose to sing to her.

Something's wrong between us

That your laugher cannot hide

And you're afraid to let your eyes meet mine

And lately when I love you, I know you're not satisfied

Annabelle felt the heat rise up her throat and suffuse her cheeks. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. Of its own volition her head shook from side to side in denial. He couldn't know. He just couldn't. She'd been so careful.

Woman oh woman

Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind

Annabelle looked around the room and groaned. Sure enough everyone was looking at her. What they must think!

I've seen the way men look at you

When they think I don't see

And it hurts to have them think that you're that kind

But it's knowing that you're looking back

That's really killing me

Annabelle stared at her husband, silently begging him to stop but on he sang, determined and resolute. How could he do this to her? How could he humiliate her like this? It had meant nothing. Nothing serious.

Woman oh woman

Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind?

Annabelle risked a glance toward Rick, her best friend's Melissa's husband. His face was rigid. He looked ill. Melissa looked at her, confused. She, too, was used to Phillip's romantic gestures. Annabelle saw the unspoken question in her friend's eyes. Why, she was asking, why was Phillip singing such an inappropriate song?

A woman wears a certain look

When she is on the move

And a man can always tell what's on her mind

I hate to have to say it

But that look's all over you

Annabelle felt naked. Exposed. Suddenly the bodice of her dress felt too low cut. Her hemline too short. Her heels too high and everything, everything was too tight. A moment ago, she'd felt sexy. Now she merely felt slutty.

Woman oh woman

Have you got cheating on your mind?

Over and over the words repeated in her mind in time with the music. How could Phillip know? How could he know? She and Rick had been so careful. It had just been a bit of fun. Something that made her feel sexy.

Oh woman oh woman

Have you got cheating on your mind?

Annabelle longed for the song to end. She wanted to leap out of her seat and run. She wanted to escape the stares, the condemnations she saw in their looks. She wanted to hide from the pain and anger she saw in Phillip's eyes, but she couldn't move. She felt like a caged animal, skewered to the seat by invisible chains. Chains made by words. Words sung so beautifully they hurt.

She looked at her husband as he repeated the words of the chorus. She searched his features for clues. Would he understand? Would he forgive her? Was there any hope for them? For their relationship?

"Please," she silently pleaded.

There was no obvious answer for her in his steely gaze.

Instead of replacing the mic as the music faded, Phillip kept it poised by his lips.

Annabelle understood. Her future hinged on the next song. She held her breath and braced herself.

TO BE CONTINUED

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A JOKE TO SEE YOU ON TO THE NEXT STORY!

Vandemonium1 would never forget how happy he felt when he saw his missus, CTC, walking down the aisle toward him.

His heart raced and the excitement was almost unbearable. It seemed to take an age but eventually there she was, standing beside him.

He gave her a loving smile and said, "Grab that trolley, will you, love. They're doing three cartons of beer for the price of two."