Henry and Diana walked down
the sidewalk holding hands. They were newly married and madly in love. Their
romance had been a whirlwind; they’d known each other for just four months. As
they walked, they hardly looked where they were going, instead spending most of
the time gazing in each other’s eyes and smiling. They were on their way to the
airport for their honeymoon. Henry hailed a cab and as the car pulled to the
cub, he opened the door for Diana. “My lady.” he said, gesturing. Diana smiled
and climbed in. “Thank you, sir.” The first thing Diana saw in the cab was the
arm of the driver resting on the back of the seat in front of her wearing a
beautiful watch with a crystal face and sleek, black rubber band. The cabby
turned to her presumably to ask the destination, but this was cut short when
their eyes met. The way the man looked at her made Diana instantly chilled.
In this brief time
Henry was stowing their luggage in the trunk. As he went around the car to
climb in, the cabby launched himself into the back seat and assaulted Diana,
grabbing at her and pulling at her clothes. Diana struggled against the man,
crying out for help. Henry went mad with rage. He yanked the car door open and
began to beat the cabby. Henry pulled him out of the car, fist meeting face in
carnal rage. The cabby tried to shield himself, but Henry was too quick. Diana
sat stunned as he beat the man over and over until he was a limp, bloody mess.
Henry let the man go and he slumped to the ground. He stared at the cabby,
breathing heavy. Diana glanced at the floor of the car. The cabby’s handsome
watch was laying there. She picked it up to examine its elegant face. On
impulse, Diana slipped the watch into her purse. “We should get a different
cab.” Henry stated. Diana nodded and climbed out of the cab. Henry gathered
their luggage and they continued on their way, both stunned, saying nothing.
A year later and Henry had
cheated on Diana several times. Desperate to draw him back, Diana decided to
give him the finest gift she could think of. Henry came home from work on the
night of their anniversary and she handed him a small box with a bow around it.
He opened the box to find a beautiful watch with crystal face and a black
rubber band. Henry was stunned by the gift. “Babe, this is gorgeous. Where did
you get it?” Diana just smiled and said, “Try it on.” Henry slipped on the
watch and admired it. He leaned in to kiss his wife, but as he did, his throat constricted.
He gasped for air and just like that he collapsed on the floor. Diana was
horrified. She called 911, but the ambulance didn’t make it in time. Diana
didn’t know Henry was allergic to latex and that lovely watch with its smooth
rubber band had been the death of him.
As you may have
guessed, this is a displacement of the story of Nessus, Heracles, and Deianira.
The things that may have tipped you off were the names, the “transporter”
attempting to rape the new bride, and the wife’s inadvertent killing of her
husband, mixed with that element of revenge from the grave.
