Glass Menagerie
Angie Morelli holds her chin high and her spine rigid. She was once beautiful. She is still proud. And she regrets nothing. She never likes Helen—and both her daughters—to begin with. Frank has changed a lot over the years. But his eyes remain the same whenever he looks at her. Silent. Passionate. Warm. Eloquent. She knew she'd made a terrible mistake the first time her late husband slapped her. She should have chosen the other man. Her life could have been different. She would have been happier. She wants to let go of the shopping cart, get away from all those watchful eyes, and rush to Frank's side. She wants to grab hold of Frank's hand. She wants to kiss Frank's tender lips. She wants to tell Frank what an amazing lover he is. All her in-laws have stopped talking to her. They still drop by almost everyday to check on Bella. But they won't even look at her or acknowledge her existence. They treat her like the infamous Jersey air. They don't bother to hide their disgust. She has been cut off from the grapevine of gossip. Her own daughter refuses to answer her calls. And Joe no longer comes over for dinner.
She doesn't know what to say to Joe. She feels this constant urge to explain herself. She wishes she can, somehow, make Joe understand. Everyone knows his father was a mean bastard. Everyone knows how hard she'd worked to make life easier. Doesn't she deserve a little happiness? She's a mother, a daughter-in-law. But she's also a woman. She, too, has needs. She, too, wants to be loved. She has never ever stopped loving Frank. And deep down inside, she is still that beautiful sexy girl. People—neighbors and strangers, friends, families and foes—have seen her naked pictures on Helen Plum's Facebook wall. So what? Let the one among you who has never sinned throw the first stone!
Angie takes several calming breaths and then blinks back the sudden tears. She has things to shop and chores to do. She will go to the hospital to visit Frank. Before it's too late. She no longer gives a damn what other people—or Joe, her favorite child of the three—think. Frank is dying.
And it was all Stephanie's fault.