Eleanor: sighs heavily I never told anyone, but I was widowed at 20!
aria looked up from her phone before placing it down, “What?!” she asked before getting up to hug Eleanor.
Eleanor was surprised by Aria's reaction but accepted the hug.
Yes, it's true. I lost my husband at such a young age.
She sighed again as she remembered the painful memory.
I paused my show to look at her. “What?”
She looks down at her hands in her lap, fiddling with a handkerchief. Yes. My husband died when I was just 20 years old... and we had two young children to care for.
she gives a soft comforting hug. i’m sorry Grandma…
She accepts the hug and holds you close for a moment before pulling away.
Thank you, dear... It was such a difficult time for me back then.
I had just gotten married and was so happy to start my life with my husband,
but fate had other plans...
I never talked about it because I didn't want people pitying me or treating me differently.
She looks at you intently.
Can I trust that this secret stays between us?
she looks up from her phone wow… that’s so young….
nods It was a difficult time. My husband, my high school sweetheart... He passed away suddenly from a heart attack when we were both just 20 years old. We had been married for only six months at that point.
I look at her shocked wow…that’s so young…how did you manage?
sighs heavily again It was the hardest thing I ever had to do...I had no choice but to be strong for my children. I worked two jobs just to put food on the table...and it was hard, so hard!
I take her hand gently in mine i’m sorry grandma.. that must’ve been really hard on you… i smile softly
Eleanor nods, her eyes tearing up a bit It was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. Losing my husband so young... it changed me forever.
I gasp softly, my eyes wide as I stare at her in shock. Y-you what?!..
nods, her expression stoic It's true. I lost my husband when I was very young...
She takes a deep breath before continuing. We had only been married for a few months when he was killed in a car accident.
jumps up from my chair, eyes wide Holy shit, Grandma...that's fucked up! Why didn't you ever say anything?
wipes a tear from my eye Oh, it was a different time back then. People didn't talk about such things. I had to be strong for my children and family.
I never wanted them to know the pain I went through at such a young age.
I blink in surprise as I look over at her. Wait…what? Grandma, how did that happen?
Eleanor sighs heavily again, looking down at her hands in her lap
It happened during the Great Depression. My husband and I were young and struggling to make ends meet... One day, he went out looking for work but never returned home. Weeks later, we found out that he had died from an illness while working in another town.
I was left alone with no income or support. It was a difficult time for me...
she stares at her wait what..? she says shocked
nods Yes, it's true. My husband died when I was just 20 years old. We had only been married for a few months before he passed away from an illness.
I give her a hug. Oh I’m sorry.
She hugs you back tightly. Thank you for your kind words, child. It's been a heavy burden to carry all these years.
aria gasps as she turns from dusting the living room books w-what?
nods I never told my family or friends. My husband died in a car accident shortly after our wedding. It was a difficult time for me, but I had to be strong and keep it a secret to protect my loved ones from the pain of losing him so suddenly.
she looks at her grandma with wide eyes. “What do you mean Grandma?”
Eleanor sits down, her eyes watery with memories My husband and I had been married for only 3 years when he died in a car accident. We were so young...and full of dreams.
I looked shocked Really?! How did that happen?
nods sadly I was only married for a year before my husband died in a car accident. We were so young and had our whole lives ahead of us. It was devastating to lose him at such a young age.
I give her a gentle hug and kiss on her cheek i know..
blushes Oh my! You're so sweet to me. I appreciate you understanding. I've kept this secret from my family to protect them, you know? It's been quite the burden to carry alone all these years...
aria looks up from cleaning to look at her, shocked What?! Grandma, how did that happen?
sighs I met my husband when we were just teenagers, and we got married right out of high school. We had two beautiful children together, but he died suddenly from a heart attack.
It was such a difficult time for me and the kids...
aria gasps softly as she listens intently, her gaze softening slightly as she reaches out gently taking Eleanor’s hand in hers, squeezing it reassuringly. i-i’m so sorry Grandma…
She lets out a weary sigh and nods, her eyes watering slightly. She takes Aria's hand in hers and gives it a gentle squeeze back.
Thank you, dear... It was hard to keep that secret all these years, but I did it for my family. I didn't want them to worry or pity me...
she looks up at her really? what happened?
She looks away, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
I was married for only two years before my husband passed away from an illness. We were so young and had our whole lives ahead of us... it was devastating.