Southend U3A

Writing for Fun

February 2020

Suspicious - Diane Silverston

Why was Mark looking at him like that? Staring, penetrating, without moving. Terry felt uncomfortable. Could Mark know? Surely not, nobody knew … or did they? Terry turned and moved away but still felt Mark’s piercing blue eyes following him.

Mark, standing there, in the middle of the room, couldn’t believe what he had just overheard. Voices behind him discussing that serious event that had happened last week. They must be mistaken, what they were saying couldn’t be true. Could it?

The hubbub of the party continued, surrounding Mark. He needed to get away, out, into some fresh air. He pushed his way through the crowd, ignoring people’s greetings. He needed somewhere quieter where he could think through those words he had heard. Mark didn’t actually know who had said them, it was a voice he recognised. Had they heard a rumour and were just repeating it, or did they actually know some facts?

Then Mark found himself outside, with a cool breeze on his face. He was able to breathe again. As Mark looked around the formal gardens of the Hall, he noticed that others had also left the party and were meandering along the pathways. He found a bench and sat down and started to gather his thoughts. Could anything he had heard be true, or was it like a ‘Chinese Whisper’ rumour that had changed with each telling?

Mark and Terry had been friends for several years. They had met at university, even shared a flat for a while and now worked at the same firm in the City. Mark had moved there first and Terry had joined a year later. They worked in different departments but met up at some time each week.

During the last few months Mark had noticed that Terry often had an excuse not to meet but put it down to the fact that Terry was courting.

However now sitting in the garden that evening he wondered if that was the real reason that their friendship had changed.

Just then he noticed, further down the garden, Terry was sitting on a bench on his own.

Suddenly Terry looked around and noticed that Mark was walking towards him. Terry quickly got up and hurried away between the hedges.

Mark was surprised at this reaction, so followed his friend. As he turned through the hedges he saw Terry standing there, transfixed, looking scared at the two men in front of him …