For Fran, almost six years as a widow. She honors the memory of her late husband in many ways, including keeping two life-sized portraits of him displayed in her home. The minute you walk into her house, these images welcome you instantly with the glow of her passion. They represent passion and underscore the complex relationship between past and present within Mina’s multifaceted world.
I have been going out with Fran for four years. He has a deep respect for the invisible, continuing involvement of her late husband with their shared lives. Yet, even with this potential threat, he does not see himself threatened by the ghost of Fran’s husband. As he continues to paint her, he realizes these portraits are a big part of her healing journey. To him, they’re relics from her previous life, previous family, past experiences that created who Fran is today.
Living less than two miles away, both Fran and I still keep our own homes. Fran’s daughter and son, who still live close by, have been a central part of her life. As a writer who’s experienced the friction of these family tensions, I understand the issues on a personal level. He has two sons from a previous marriage that lasted 34 years. This common ground of swirling family dynamics deepens their bond.
As writers, sometimes we’re left wondering if the emotional connection is completely one-sided. Despite his affection for Fran, he struggles with the reality that she may still be deeply tied to her past. Her late husband’s portraits hang on every wall, unending reminders of the life she no longer lives. Sometimes this memory colors their present connection.
Just because Fran is determined to honor the memory of her late husband does not mean she is incapable of loving someone else. Through the poet’s journey and personal exploration, we experience our own struggle to make sense of his emotional complexities. Fran’s lasting attachments further muddy his emotional odyssey. Their relationship needs to be approached with the same care and understanding as they both navigate their developed pasts, alongside their formed future.
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