I awoke early the sound of smashing echoing round the house. I turned to look at the alarm clock a blank display looked back at me. Obviously the electric had gone during the early hours, I looked at my phone 5am nearly time to get up anyway.
As I groped round in the dark to find the torch I had bought I came to the conclusion that shuttting off the electric had not been my greatest idea. Stubbing my toe against some invisible mountain I let out a yelp. Finally grasping the thin metallic tube I managed to find the switch and turn it on. A thin shaft of pale light illuminated the few feet ahead of me. I shone the light round me trying to gather the rest of my belongings. I made a decision I would not be returning to this house again. I could not imagine spending one nigh like this.
Another crash from below. Judging by the sound a shattering glass it was either the tv or window that had gone. I wondered what the neighbours must think whether they would come round or call the police. He had associated with them before we got married but as I explained as we slowly disassociated ourselves from them they were really not the sorts of people we wanted to have to acknowledge knowing in public.
On the left was a business man a little vulgar and common but respected enough for that to be forgiven were it not for his wife. The mail order bride as I called her my husband insisted she wasn’t that she was actually some sort of doctor but I didn’t believe him he could be so guillible at times. To the right an eldery couple from whom the odour of mothballs could frequently be detected. She talked incessantly of the days she had been a debutante young and pretty at parties with royalty. To be fair she had showed me a couple of pictures to back up her claims but constantly hearing about them was tedious. I thought it rather sad looking at her that the pinnacle of her life should have happened so early it had all been downhill since then.
I concentrated now on the task at hand. I made sure I had everything of value laptop, phone and the various wires and stuffed them in my gym bag. I swiftly sorted through the remaining clothing a few bits joining the already bulging bag the rest lay unwanted, abandoned let him do what he wanted with then like everything they were replacable.
As I struggled with the zip my eyes settled on my hand. The large diamond nestled against the elegant gold band. I slipped them off weighing them careful in my hand. I slipped the diamond back on the opposite finger and rummaged through the bag for my jewellery box. Opening it I retrieved a ring set with a cluster of smaller stones. This was the ring he bought me he had thought it showed how wonderful he was choosing a ring all by himself despite my pointing out the one I wanted on numerous occasions. I had worn this for a few days before replacing it with the one I wanted. At first I just thought he hadn’t noticed but as he slipped the wedding ring on it could not have escaped him he had never even brought the matter up
I headed carefully down the stairs and towards the door. By the entrance stood a small tables bearing a pile of mail I leafed through them by torchlight stuck a couple in my pocket. Then I placed the rings on top of the junk mail and left.
I was distracted all day at work convinced there was something I was missing. Something I had forgotten or left behind along the way. No one commented on the growing pile of my belongings in the office. Nor did they question why I remained as they left. I curled up in the plush leatherr sofa in my office and closed my eyes.
