The News (Short Story)

There once was a married couple that lived a happy life together and loved each other dearly. Even though they had an abundance of love, they did not have an abundance of money. They often struggled to pay their bills and were living from paycheck to paycheck. Being a blind man, it was especially difficult for the husband to get and maintain a job. He had been fired many times from several different jobs. Out of frustration and lack of motivation, he was unemployed for quite a while.

However, after his wife excitingly informed him that she was pregnant, he was quickly motivated to provide for his wife and soon-to-be-born baby. After applying to countless jobs, he was finally hired. He eventually told his wife to quit her job so she can relax and focus on the remainder of her pregnancy. She was reluctant to agree because although her husband now had a steady income, it was not quite enough to support the two of them and a newborn baby. Though, her husband assured her that he was doing well at his new job and that it was already rumored he was going to be promoted. As his wife was approaching her last week of pregnancy, he was granted a promotion from his boss. Realizing that he was now able to adequately provide for his family, he rushed home to tell his wife the good news in person.

As he entered their home, he heard her singing and washing dishes. Wanting to surprise her, he crept behind her and put one of his hands over her eyes and the other around her waist. However, as he did this, the wife happened to be washing a butcher knife. Thinking it was a burglar behind her, she quickly grasped the knife in her hand and plunged it into the intruder’s side. As the pair of hands uncovered her eyes and left her waist, she turned around and saw her husband slowly collapse on the floor, clutching his side with blood seeping through his fingers.

He died within minutes.