Michelle D. Rayford
Not That
Nice
Story Note
My writing process starts with a “What
if?” question. What if a woman realizes she
married the wrong man? The character or
idea plays in my head like a movie and I try
to capture their actions and emotions on the
page. In a way, I reenact the story for that
character. Writing this anthology present-
ed a unique challenge for me as this is the
first time I wrote a story in third person. It
required me to view the story through a dif-
ferent lens. I hope readers enjoy the journey
Kelsee braced for his reprimand and anger. Both were as
familiar as breathing. She knew how much Alex hated the light
shining in his face. She couldn’t believe she’d forgoten to close
the blinds.
Everything had to be perfect. Always.
When she couldn’t take the silence a moment longer, she
chanced a peek and released a sigh of relief at the sight of the
empty pillow beside her. Then she remembered. He wasn’t there.
The reason, for the moment, escaped her.
Kelsee snuggled deeper in the sheets and stretched out in
the middle of the bed. She tried to relax and reclaim sleep, but her
brain was already churning. She couldn’t shake the feeling that
she’d forgotten something.
The phone rang, and she checked the caller ID screen
and groaned. She composed herself before answering, “Hello,
Mariam.”
Her sister-in-law skipped the usual greeting of ‘As-salamu
Alaykum’ and asked, “Are you ready?”
Kelsee’s mind froze. Ready for what?
“I can’t believe I have to do this,” Mariam’s usually strong
voice cracked.
Memories flooded in. Today was the funeral.
Two days ago, her husband left to play “golf ” at the Chandler
Park Course in the Five Points area in Atlanta. Kelsee made him
a fruit smoothie. He downed it in silence and left without saying
goodbye.
Kelsee went about her regular Saturday chores of cleaning the
house, stripping the sheets, mopping and vacuuming. She was
washing their dishes when the phone call came. The call that
changed everything.
Her mask firmly in place, Kelsee lied, “I can’t believe it
either.”
She closed her eyes, listening as Mariam sniffed and
repeated the same rambling from yesterday. “Why would Allah
take him from me so soon? My baby brother. Why?”
Kelsee didn’t respond. No one in that family listened to her