All Comments on 'Last Wishes'

Patricia, you have pointed out the main pitfall of these current times of instant chat, facebook friends, etc. To make sure the friends we make from literally around the world aware when a calamity happens is yet another responsibility of those that are left behind.Yet how would we handle the depth of friendship or love with others? This is something we will each have to wrestle with and find our own answers for. Thank you for sounding the wake up call for all of us. While you have written "fiction" this has real life implications. Great job!

This one hurt.

Patricia another wonderful story. I am fairly new here and just

getting to your stories. This one provokes a lot of emotion.

Thanks for sharing.

One little flaw does exist in the premise however. An 18 wheel truck

that has an air line break would not lose his breaks, they would lock

up. On big rigs, air is used in the reverse of break fluid on a car.

In a truck when you press the brake pedal air is released from the

brakes thus allowing them to apply. Just for future stories.

But again thanks for the story.

I thought this was one of your best. Definitely Five Stars.

Here is a rare story on Lit: one that understands conflicting emotions and offers thoughtful outcomes rather than knee-jerk reactions.

Patti has reached deeply into the well of emotions in this story of a husband who makes a shocking discovery about his wife after her death. And the author has refused to take the easy path from the start to the finish of this very moving story.

This story is highly recommended to any Lit reader who is willing to delve deeply into the real feelings of real-seeming people. It is a sad story, but in the end, uplifting.

browsing and I found this excellent story,thank you for writing it,and just to say I know how the driver of the 18 wheeler felt.

Patricia i broke down crying when John found out about deborahs fateful secret and when she got killed will they be a continuation to johns phone call i broke down crying because i lost my not to a car crash but he passed away and i feel for john thats my first name and my dads.thank you patricia i loved that story.

Pat Murray

Atlanta,Ga.

To me, this is the best story I've read on this site. It seemed realistic. And as to the phone number issue, I have a number of my email contacts telephone numbers, but the friendship is stricly online so no long distance bill.

I will look for more of your work. Thanks for writing.

A wonderful story - thanks.

I appreciate your writing a sensitive story about a couple, their secrets and fidelity. I thought it to be a nice story. Now, imagine what would have happened (perhaps another story) if she had shared those feelings with him, & trusted him...

I haven't read the pervious comments so I don't know if I am repeating something some body else has said or if I am disagreeing with someone but I wouldn't be suprise of I am. :)

So this is a good story well written, not at all unusual for Patricia51, and unique. I like it because it is different. At least I haven’t read too many stories with this theme to them. It was a good idea and a good exacution of the idea. I could see a husband reacting like that, well except for maybe hugging the truck driver then again maybe so, and I could see how a wife would not want her husband to know about some of her past relationships and her current online one. Both elements were well done I believe.

I do however have one question did she have sex with the women before meeting hubby? I probably missed something in that section or it could be something that was supposed to be assumed. But if so I like things better stated so I don’t assume the wrong thing as I have done a time or two.

And this section<<They all seemed innocuous. Among others, there were two folders labeled "Stories". No, one was "Other's Stories".>> That third sentence doesn’t seem to make sense. I figured out what it meant by the context but I think Patricia51 and her editor missed somethingalong with some typos this time. I should speak about typos they are unsual in her work.

And I missed where he got the phone number but I can see how he would be unsure about calling the other woman. The emotion was there and the clarity of husband’s thoughts as well as what was on the E-mails, everything was in good shape.

As to the stories he mention by name. I don’t recognize those names except for maybe Ann Douglas so are all real writers and stories?

I will add that this type of realtionship can distract from a hubsand and wife one but in this case it wasn't much and she did spend time with hubby and building that realtionship.

TabooTeller

I have to wonder how it would have been received as a published book.

People seem to have a different scale for stories written on-line.

Folks, the characters are flawed. It is what makes it a story and weaves a tapestry of thoughts and emotions.

With a short story the true nature of a character becomes even more vague. That is part of the charm. It allows you to fill in the blanks. Try not to fill all of them with negative thoughts.

You have not read the author's bio which states that

(1) she is bi and loves her husband;

(2) she engages in cyber relationships that are

subordinate to her love for her husband

Now do you understand "Last Wishes?"

SleeplessinMD

A mostly adoring public evidently sees something I don't.

The way he should have felt in the situation described was much less than loved or loving. I would have been much more confused and openly angry with her - the one who selfishly and passionately wanted not me soley but quietly and secretly another as well. She wanted a lesbian lover, but didn't have the courage to admit, to inform, to offend, to act or alter or upset or change her life or others. Safety in preserving the her marriage and life status quo seemed primary so to speak.

Kinda like saying "it was only sex" but instead saying "I also love her as much or more as you" but I am selfishly ashamed and not courageous enough to confront myself or you.

If this is what you meant to depict, I could understand the confliction but you didn't confront his real life issue but seemed to give her tacit and subtle approval for her secret infringing love. This confuses me immensely as to your message or story purpose??? Is the message that bisexuality in marriage is ok if open or hidden even though marriage by definition is not a sharing beyond the two contractualy commited married people???

Not the clarity of message I have come to expect from you is it?

thank heavens you are back on line.

there are very few authors that can hold my interest but you are one of those,

good stories do not need graphic sex to hold your attention its the feelings that hold your attention.

best wishes

I can't answer for other commentators, but I mentioned the lesbian relationship because that is the subject about which Patti wrote. Fancy that! - comment on the story and still get a blast?

Had I mentioned a male/male relationship or a heterosexual cheating scenario as you have, what would be the relevance to Patti's story?

My comments were centered around John, Deb and Judith because those were the characters in the story Patti wrote and I read.

Those names could easily be any names in any of the possible permuations of gender and all my comments re the effect on a marriage of sharing or splitting one's love are still valid. (except, of course, if my name were Vickie? Then I'd be an angel disadvantaging no one)

commentators.

Why has everyone concentrated on this being the story of a Lesbian relationship? The truth is this story applies to heterosexual relationships as well. Perhaps the same sex theme may make it easier for the husband to accept it. But romantic, sexual love is the same emotion whether two women direct it to one another, two men doing it, or in this case the wife having a secret male lover. In all these cases no attempt for consumation need be made. As I said earlier, in all these cases the wife (in this case) has withheld something from the marriage with her husband.

Maybe the lesbian relationship is easier to accept, but it is NO different from love given to another whatever the sex.

Doug

On the surface the story was good.

Quite a few edting errors, five I noticed without even looking hard - enough to annoy.

Then that phone number? We were told this was a online affair only. They would never meet. No phone sex etc.etc.

So how did John manage to suddenly have Judith's phone number?

How did your team miss that 'little' detail?

Annoying to have a major item like that appear from nowhere, it spoiled the whole story more so than the theme of lesbian affairs don't count. Talk about a double standard - come to think of it, someone did today.

I'm sure that this has happened many times to both widowers and widows.

Obviously some of your readers are so insecure that they couldn't handle being in this situation. However most of them are total jerks anyhow.

Anyhow a great tale.

Thanks

where did that phone number come from?

Had the relationship developed to the stage of talking on the phone?

If so it was way more serious than an 'online fling' whch would never be consummated????

Sorry, but I can't agree with all the coments about what a 'loving and tender' story this is. It is not that at all.

Firstly, let me say I enjoyed this story. On the face of it, it all seems quite 'nice', and she seems a good woman.

But, Patti, let's look a bit deeper. You hit the nail on the head in the story when you have John say to himself:

"Loved. How could she say that? She was his WIFE, dammit, she was supposed to love only him. Well, at least in that fashion. After all, she had loved their children, and her parents, and other relatives, and people at the church, and others she knew. But this was different. This was the love that only two people could share. Wasn't it?...................But how could Deborah's love for Judith not somehow have compromised, lessened the love she felt for him?"

Then you seemingly disregard those thoughts/emotions for the rest of the story as if they are irrelevant.

I believe those words to be the true crux of the story. Yes, her love for those other people mentioned is a different kind of love from the love she has for John. It is a shared love, shared with John for those people, so it in fact added to their love, one for the other.

And John is correct – Deborah's love for Judith DID compromise and lessen her love for him – in a BIG way too. For all the justification which came later, she did wrong; she knew she was doing wrong, and she kept on doing wrong. What sort of person was she? Quite frankly 'a very flawed person' is the best light I can shine on her. She wanted her cake and eat it too – not the first one of those and not the last either. But she quite knowingly rejected her husband and gave some of the love which was rightly his to some unknown entity on another computer somewhere. It could have quite easily been some fat balding 25 stone sweaty pig she was pledging her love to – how could she know? But nonetheless she channelled love which should have been John's to this person. What sort of deficient personality would do that? She is not a 'loving wife' at all.

Now he has found out after her death and cannot even discuss any of it with her. It is quite possible they may have parted ways over this - we will never know – neither will John.

But we are expected to believe he will blithely have a phone conversation with Judith to get to know is dead wife better. Just a bit too unlikely for my credibility rating.

Seems the moral of this story is a that secret lesbian affair (requited or not) is alright and will not affect a marriage in any way. Poppycock theme, well told.

Pat

This was one of your best. The drama, the grief, the examination of feelings was excellent. Unlike Torn this one is complete in itself. I see you put yourself into this.

Read ya later

Bishop

My favorite author has done it again. Your writing is the most thought provoking on Literotica. Yes, you play your readers like a violin. Emotionly you run us through the full range of feelings mankind is heir to and at the same time the thought is firmly planted, If it was me . . ? Thank You. Ronnie W.

This comment goes against all of my homophobic bias; what a mature and touching story this was.

A little apprehensive but a truly loving story!

Your story touched the insecurities we all have toward those who are our soulmates. How can we truly think that we know them? We only have what they say and do as a measure of their spirit and soul. Everyone I know have their secrets.

Some secrets are sweet (kept to protect us) and some are bitter (kept to protect them). In your story John finds out that the secret his decreased wife kept was a desire than fell below the love they shared so this was truly a loving wife story.

Thanks!

SleeplessinMD

Another winner by you. You write as well as anyone on Literotica.

Boyd

Thank you very much for writing a thoughtful if very disquieting little tale of modern betrayal. I cannot help but think that John's reaction as well as the reaction of your readers, would have been dramatically different if Judith had been male. Yet, there is no real difference. Deborah was in fact cheating on John. He will feel the betrayal for the rest of his life, even if it is a bit molified by the memory of her loving nature.

Real depiction of sorrow, doubt, love and all other emotions at a sad time!

As always a master!

Thank You!

John

M'Lady, beautifully done and well trimed. I loved it.

The fact that Deborah realized that John would be hurt by her actions tells an awful lot. It is in effect the admission that she knows she is cheating him by giving some of her love to another person. One can come to no other conclusion.

Now, I don't have a problem with her having those hidden feelings. I think she is free to do what she must do for her own sake. The fact that he found out after the death absolves her of any consequences, but he still has to live with it. Had he discovered this before Deborah's death we would have an entirely different story here.

As it is, I admire his character greatly. He is totally surprised and hurt. He goes through a gamit of emotions about what he discovers, BUT, in the end he realizes he cannot change what his wife was. In order to get insight to her unknown feelings he ultimately contacts Juidith, the other special person in his wife's life. In doing so he will end up sharing her even further with Judith.

This too is not a bad thing at all, because in doing so maybe they will both know the whole Deborah which is what each must long to do.

I loved it, and yes, even Charleybear had a tear or two.

in a page than most writers can in chapters. I could identify with both spouses and cry and laugh with them as I read your story. The weakness, and the strength, of the human condition is the source for all literature. You used weakness and strength in this quite expertly. It was simply a really good story.

A beautiful story from a talanted lady. I'll be brief and sum it up with two words: Perfection extraordinaire.

Other than a typo or two, I found nothing to fault here. Please keep writing. I look forward to more of your stories.

you in the top 5 of all time writer on this site.now saying that are you ok.you sound like you are saying good bye.what up with that? ok make be top 2 all time.keep the good work coming.

I had this interesting conversation one time with my then In-Laws... it involved being able to love more then just your SO, they both vehemently told me that I was dead wrong that you could only love one person and that if you did then you were not really loving anyone. I have always thought that the heart has the capcity to love and love and love and just when you think its done it loves more... I told them they were wrong.... that my heart was not some tiny box that couldn't be filled to overflowing and then some.... I will never forget that conversation. Your story was wonderful.

Always, E

this story was outstanding good! Thanks for sharing your gift with us. Sometimes we don't know how much we are loved until that love is gone.

Best regards!

Patricia,

You have done it again. Another masterful story and as usual one that touches deep even to people such as myself who have no experience with the life style you write of. It is probably because you a so skillful at touching the elements and core of people in general. I hope you continue to write these stories for they are some of the very best on this site.

Thank you for this story. The loss of a spouse has to be one of the most traumatic events in a person's life, and in some respects, perhaps even more so than the lose of a child. You handled it with sensitivity and love. The bisexuality of Deborah was, at least to me, incidental. What you so aptly illustrated was the love and acceptance of a devoted husband. The story touched me deeply, and again, thank you.

Patty you have such a gift that words cannot really express it. Thank you for this wonderful story. You have brought out almost all the emotions of those truly in love who loses that loved one. Finding out that Deborah had another life in her fantasies and correspondences with others all over the world was shocking in itself; however finding out that she had a very strong relationship with Judith could have sent John over the edge.

Only you Patricia could have could bring out that person that John really was and let him call Judith with the sad news of her passing.

A truly very fine story for which you are so well known , thank you again friend.

George

One of our best writers, with a story that rings achingly true. I'm a big boy, and big boys aren't supposed to cry, but I felt some tears welling up as I read of this man's struggles. A very, very good read.

A story with more angst in it than 'most any other.

There seems to be only one thing you have not included, and I wonder if you even thought of it.

And so many facets of it to think about.

Without a doubt, no question at all, John would have felt he had lost some portion of his wife's love on discovering she loved another.

One aspect of marriage, at least for most, all of those I am aware of, is that each parner has given themselves wholly, completely to the other. Of course that is an impossibility, there would be and would always be little parts hidden away. Some even the partner holding these secrets might not be aware of.

But sexuality is not one of those that could or should be hidden.

Perhaps... No! Probably! If the "secret" were in the past and never impinged on the lives of the married couple it could and maybe should be ignored.

But when a major emotional outlet is discovered, then sought out and kept secret from the other partner not just once but over years, it is more than a problem.

And the secret keeper admits and understands he is withholding something from the partner. If that wasn't understood there would be no reason to keep it a secret. That in itself is an admission by the secret holder that something is being withheld from the relationship. An admission that not all the love and compassion they feel due to their partner is being shared.

Perhaps the secret keeper was not willing to admit to themselves the extent of the loss to their partner.

Fantasies, urges, such things are not in the realm, the universe, of having, encouraging and cultivating stronger and stronger directions toward which the secret keeper is veering at the expense of their partner.

And the secret keeper admits this, if not to the knowledge of it, in the impassioned "defenses" and adamant statements that they will never turn away from the partner. Those statements and defenses are in themselves admissions. How does it go? Methinks you protest too much?

So, how would the remaining partner, the husband in your story, react? I would like to think this gentle, loving man would accept this new facet of his beloved's life. But make no doubt of it, he would feel less loved.

Do I have a panacea to salve the hurt, prevent it? Not at all, unless somehow bringing the partner into full knowledge can do it. Certainly, strong depth of the soul yearnings are not things that can be ignored.

Doug

that comes from the heart. A loving story told without anyone being mad or hurt. I feel for John, and I am glad you wrote it where he could talk to Judith without blowing up and getting mad at anyone. Life is too short to carry a grudge or try for revenge.

Thank you patricia51...

a good story

but not this time. Very nice writing, excellent story, and I enjoyed every word of it. I smoked the cigarettes with him, drank the whiskey, paced the floor, and in the end, felt very relieved that she loved us above all else. What more could an author accomplish. A fan always.

An achingly real depiction of love and grief and understanding.

Thank you.

Roger

You've drawn out the feelings of the central character so nicely.

The grief, the uncertainty, the sense of betrayal and inadequacy, the rediscovery of love, the acceptance.

Very nice work patricia. A real joy to read.

This story is like a precious jewel found in the dung pile that is "loving Wifes". Your character was truly loving.

Thanks for the story and the inspiration.

As the poet said "O was some Power the giftie gie us

To see oursels as ithers see us!"

Encouragement, admiration and thanks Precious Patti.

Poetry and songs in this offering "I see the world from both sides now."

Thank you, as always.

for writing such a thoughtful story. Sad but heartwarming at the same time.

What a delightful story! A great way to start the week.

Thank you for a good read. Enjoyed the story and the emotions it evoked. It was fast, quick and clean. Good writing is a pleasure to experience.

This is a special story; special even from the pen of one so talented as Patty.

It involves a widower dealing with his wife's previously hidden inner life; discovering disconcerting facts about which he hadn't a clue.

The story deftly portrays the range of his emotions as he goes through discovery to shock to betrayal to acceptance.

Funny thing is, and the most important revelation he discovered was: she truly was a loving wife.

Every word of this story rings true. These are real people with real needs and desires. You painted a picture of a strong, sensual, and noble woman. A woman conflicted but with a firm foothold in the real world.

The vast majority of the stories on this site are the wildest form of fantasy. I could see this story actually playing itself out in the den of a suburban home and across the expanse of the internet. How many of us have engaged in some sort of internet flirting or gone further, much further? How few of us would have been as strong as Deborah? The opportunity was there and she denied herself the very thing that she desperately wanted.

I also liked the way you drew the husband. He was hit with what could have been a terrible shock after his wifes death and yet he handled it with the same love he gave his wife during their time together. I saw him as a man as devoted to his wife as she was to him. When presented with a choice these people did the right thing. There are no villains in this story; just real people, good people.

There may even be a moral in this story. Love, unconditional and selfless love is the only defense against the temptations all around us. Love your partner with all that you have and that love will be the wall of defense that no one will be able to breech.

You are an amazing writer. I think we need a Hall Of Fame here at Lit and the first jersey we hang from the rafters should be #51.

I love this story. I wish you would write a sequel to this, but I understand if you don't.