Week 4 - " The Sock"

This story was filled with regret and past memories, the women narrating spoke in a tone that made her almost understanding about the situation. It seemed she sounded as if she had come to terms with her separation with her husband. But I couldn't help but notices he refers to her ex husband as, " My husband.". Now as far as I'm aware, you don't refer to an ex or divorced significant other as if they are currently in a relationship with you. This really stood out within the reading because it shows that even though on the outside she shows she has come to terms and is comfortable with the fact she no longer with her husband. But on the other hand deep inside she is hurting, wishing things had worked out a bit differently. She even mentions she plays nice with " her husbands" wife for the sake of her child. In other words if she could fight off his wife to have him back she would in a heartbeat. The sock seems to trigger flashback memories of this woman and her husband when they were together. She describes her memories in such detail, " How he would lie reading on his back on the bed with his feet crossed at the ankles so that his feet would be pointed toward different corners of the room.". I just don't understand the end though, she keeps his wives belongings such as a, " Red comb, red lip-stick and a bottle of pills." and sticks them in a draw until the next time she sees her husband and his wife. Why can't she simply send them back? The only thing that can come from holding on to these belongings is more regret and a build up of hatred. But hey, thats just my opinion!