This story is by Claire Doutremepuich and was part of our 2024 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
THE EXPLOSION
An explosion…
Sandra does not find another word to describe what she is experiencing, feeling, at this very moment…
At the age of 32, this freelance journalist, deeply committed to the role of women in society, leads her life in complete freedom.
Her professional life fascinates her, and leaves only a limited place for her private life.
Some «sexfriends», and, for 6 months, Joshua, with whom she also shares a professional investment.
Joshua is a photoreporter, who works on sensitive places of the planet, to testify by his images.
For the past three months, Sandra and Joshua have been preparing a joint professional trip to Egypt, with some incursions into Gaza and Israel.
Sandra decided to create a complete file, which will be THE reference, on the life of women in countries at war, in the XXI century.
Sandra and Joshua regularly share moments of intimacy, passionate parentheses,
never mentioning any romantic relationship or commitment.
Free woman, responsible for her life, Sandra uses an oral contraception, which she takes scrupulously, at the excellent rate of effectiveness of more than 92%.
So what her doctor told her, was just «an explosion».
Freelance journalist, for several years, Sandra has gained a certain notoriety, in the field of Women’s Rights, the fight against inequalities, both in the fields of professional and personal life.
She regularly publishes articles to evoke the (few) progress, the way to go, the mental weight that weighs mainly on the shoulders of women, and the media recognize her ability to treat subjects from different angles, adapted to their type of readership.
She also worked, over the past two years or so, about the role played by women, in the two great world wars of the twentieth century; the evolution of the importance of women in maintaining and even developing the economy as a war, the gains for their freedom and … a status provisionally freer …
Wars decided by men, where women played, in various forms, a primary role in defending the freedoms of Western societies and democracy.
The opportunity to leave in two months, for two months, in a war region, in the XXI century, will allow Sandra to build a documented record, to collect live various testimonies, different women, to write substantive articles, to deal with « Women’s lives in countries at war in the 21st century ».
Her ambition : to invest in a work that makes reference, of such a quality that she can be rewarded for the excellence of her profession as a journalist, by a Pulitzer Prize.
This is THE opportunity of her life!
A child!
Sandra bursts into tears, violent sobs, shaking her whole body and soul…
She thinks she can never stop crying…
Tucked away in his belly, a child has been there for two months and feels safe.
Sandra didn’t want her/him, didn’t hoped her/him … just today she/he’s here.
And she no longer recognizes herself … who is this woman at the top of her skin, at the top of her heart, at the top of her tears, who already thinks she feels a weak breath in her ?
This is not the life she chose, for which she fought and worked tirelessly.
To tell the truth, she always put off this hypothesis of child desire, without even thinking about it, you know this famous «tomorrow is another day».
Now, today, this very day, this little thing, so tiny, so fragile, so quietly settled there, took its own place in her, and for Sandra, protecting her/him, no matter what, upside down and against everything, is suddenly obvious…
That’s THE meaning of his life!
Sandra, at this crossroads of two life paths, adopts a professional attitude, to analyze the possibilities, advantages and disadvantages …
She reflects, develops different scenarios, starts again, when … the light emerges from the chaos … What man feels compelled to choose between his career and his child?
None to his knowledge.
This evidence, once stated, Sandra examines the situation from another angle.
From my experience and my work over the last few years, I know exactly what I want to do, to build a record, that will make an impression.
I am also the queen of the organization, and my creativity is not outdone.
My thorough preparation work, my contacts and exchanges, before departure, allow me to have an extremely precise plan.
Precision, details, schedule, follow-up of achievements, anticipation of the unexpected, adaptation to new information, have always been an asset for me, and this will still be the case here.
I will stay in Egypt, where I plan to meet Israeli and Palestinian women from Gaza, who have taken refuge there.
I have already been there, and I have kept many contacts, with Egyptian women with rich experiences, local media, as well as in the medical community.
This will facilitate my installation for two months, my professional entourage, and my medical follow-up.
Working in a calm and stable environment can only benefit my baby and the quality of my work.
I schedule interviews with women in both Gaza and Israel, via teleconference, to be realized on Zoom, with the help of Joshua, when he will be there.
At the crossroads, Sandra decided to create a new road.
Joshua and she have an appointment the day after tomorrow, to work together.
Should she tell him about the situation at that time?
Or before?
And how?
After considering different possibilities, Sandra chooses to write a letter to Joshua.
Sorting his mail, Joshua is surprised to recognize Sandra’s handwriting on an envelope.
They spent a very pleasant evening together the day before last, and have a working appointment tomorrow morning, to prepare their next trip.
He is fully satisfied to find with Sandra the intimacy of a relationship with a woman for whom he also has a strong professional respect shared. This is the first time in his life that he feels in harmony with himself, simply and naturally.
He doesn’t know yet, but as soon as he opens the envelope, then reads the letter, Joshua will find himself, in turn, at a crossroads.
Crossroads.
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