Thelma played the cello. Every morning before she talked to anyone, like checking the weather. She was married to Fred who was a decent man. Reliable Fred. The kind of Fred that would remember birthdays and replace the batteries in smoke detectors. He loved her sincerely and did not understand why that didn\u2019t feel like enough. He understood her habits, but not her gravity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One night, after dinner and an argument that had already run unnecessary laps, he said it out loud, \u201cYou love that cello more than me.\u201d She tightened a string that had been slipping all day. Then she said, \u201cI love you with the part of me that makes plans. I love the cello with the part of me that survives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This didn’t help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They went to see Nathan the counsellor. He wasn\u2019t licensed. He was an artist who described himself as a counsellor, which partly explained why he was cheaper than the ones with credentials. He lived above a rehearsal factory. He owned one chair, and never interrupted. Fred talked about feeling second place. Thelma talked about feeling split in half. Nathan listened, nodding like someone watching traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, he said, \u201cGive me the cello.\u201d Thelma hesitated, then handed it over as though crossing a border she hadn\u2019t planned to. He leaned it against the wall. \u201cNow,\u201d he said to Fred, \u201cask it what it wants.\u201d Fred cleared his throat. He tried a sentence. Nothing happened and the cello remained inanimate. Then Nathan said to Thelma, \u201cPlay it with your eyes closed.\u201d She closed her eyes and pulled the bow. Downstairs the jam band stopped for no apparent reason. When she stopped, Nathan turned to Fred. \u201cDid she leave?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d Fred said. \u201cShe was right here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith the cello?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cCompletely.\u201d Nathan the discount counsellor smiled the way people do when they\u2019ve seen this movie before. \u201cThen this isn\u2019t about love,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s about control. You want to be first. The cello wants her to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That night, Fred stopped competing with the wood and wire. Thelma stopped trying to justify gravity. They stayed together. Not blissfully. Just accurately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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