A Stolen Life
Somebody I know – let’s call him John – had his entire life derailed by a single event 35 years ago. He had everything going for him; a wife, 2 preschool daughters and was in a lucrative business with an equally capable partner. Now he has nothing.
One day the business required of him to be away for a week. However, he concluded the business in 4 days and arrived home on a night flight. When he walked into his bedroom he found his partner in marriage in bed with his partner in business.
Keeping the business in the family turned out to be too much for him. He fetched his firearm in the study and went to the kitchen to bolster his nerves with a few neat brandies. Then the two lovebirds appeared. And he fired two shots at them. Missed them both and they ran to the police station only half a block away.
John was arrested, charged with attempted murder and sent for psychiatric evaluation. When the case went to trial it was discovered that the lovebirds had disappeared. No witnesses meant no case and in the end John was found guilty of discharging a firearm within the municipal boundaries; he paid a small fine and forfeited his firearm.
But his life was over. The business went to pieces during the three months while he was in arrest and his wife cleaned out the house and the bank account before disappearing. John had lost all interest in life.
He drifted from job to job; more unemployed than employed. More on the street than in a house. Not the will to continue. He was an only child and he lost both his parents on the same day two years prior to the shooting incident. No family to get him on track again.
When the lovebirds finally resurfaced ten years later they were married and John did not even know he was divorced. His children were legally adopted by their new father and when he tried to contact them he ran into a court order preventing contact.
I don’t have much sympathy with his inability to stand up again but I do feel sorry for him. I think his life was stolen from him.
PS
A lot of detail had been left out to keep the story shorter.
Comments (99)
well, I tried that with the sabotager next door, but he has got me by my water pipes, which he keeps spiking to punish me.
but I cant make friends with him, otherwise, he will simply possess me and my little old house and Im a bit broke.
Yes we are judged by how fast we can get up; not by how far we had fallen.
This guy is amongst the walking dead. I wish I can see him now. I wonder what happened to him. I have not seen him for just over two years.
One simple error in your reaction and a whole life destroyed. If only he had acted rationally.
If only she had...
Eishhh! if pigs could fly...
I don't really care much about the Zodiac signs but you understand the Pisces person very badly. According to the horoscopes we are talented idealists and dreamers. And that is about as close as you can summarize me in a few words. I don't know what bad experience you had with Pisces but if we are all the same as they say, we only protect what is ours.
As you say; lucky they cannot fly. Otherwise we would have to stay under cover all day.
What an interesting view. No, I fear not me at all.
A beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing.
Did you write that? Wonderful!
From what I last heard they were doing just fine. But maybe. there is still time. I wonder how the sleep at night. We won't know.
Sad but a great story to write about...has the potential...funny how life can be good one moment then...change so drastically...I am truly sorry for him and his loss...a man broken...so you don't know if he alive?...I hope he has reunited with his children and turned his life around...one can hope.
I am feel sorry for what had happened to him.
But one can do nothing if "fate" has spoken.
happy Monday, my friend.
I don't know what made me think of him yesterday. I really do wonder if he is still alive. I should go looking for him. He was not a bad guy and quite pleasant to talk to. A type of person I could be friends with in a different situation.
Yes girl, it is to cry about.
But then nobody ever promised us a fair life.
It is a very unforgiving world. Just one indiscretion in a time of stress and everything that you had worked for is down the drain.
his life was over anyway, he knew he wouldnt recover, cause he new he wouldnt last in any job long, he is the persecuted one.
so, he should have just shot both of them, there and then, in the head.
I have now 3 people in my garden trying to control me, and thinking how they are going to break more pipes, windows etc, and maybe even kill me.
I should take them out now, but Its my last resort. So, Im waiting for when they enter the house to kill me.
Im setting up a trap, a doll that looks like its sleeping, theyll think its me.
but, Im hiding sleeping somewhere else, where they wont find or see me.
I know the next door neighbour doesnt want them on his property, he is stuck with them, and him and I hate each other, so he is now using them to take me out etc.
but Ill get him later.