She gazed at the wall unit. Gone were the few ornaments that she’d received as birthday presents over the years. They were packed in boxes and stored at her parents’ house. Her eyes moved to the wall space above the television. A large framed photo of her in her wedding gown hung from a golden hook. Her own eyes stared back at her smiling. How happy she had been that day. Who would have thought that it would all end in heartbreak.

A noise from behind caused her to turn.

Kevin, the man she once loved stood in the doorway. "So, you’re going then?"

"Yes. I told you it would be today."

"It doesn’t have to be this way."

"Yes, it does, Kevin."

"We can talk about it!"

"We’ve talked until we’re blue in the face. It never does any good and things always revert back to us being miserable."

"I’ve never been miserable!" he accused.

"No, you weren’t. You had no reason to, did you?"

Kevin threw his keys on the small hall table. "I do love you, you know." It was a statement not a question.

Stephanie shrugged. "Maybe so, but you love your beer and your mates more. You live your life like a single man not as a husband. Now I'm just making it official. "

"Listen, Steph..."

"No, Kevin. Say no more and neither will I. It’s over. It has been for a long time. Only, I was too stubborn to see it and too scared to do anything about it."

"I’m sorry I’m not what you want any more."

Kevin’s self pity left her unmoved. Not so long ago it would have made her put her arms around him and forgive him for his lack of interest, but not now. Too many tears had been shed and all the lonely hours spent by herself while he had been drinking with his mates had turned her love for him. Her feelings for him had waned until they diminished altogether. 

The dreams she built while on her honeymoon were scattered to the wind. She was only thankful that her vision of having children had not come into fruition. Kevin’s immature attitude being a husband was bad enough, but to be a father as well would have been disastrous. He didn’t want the same things she did, and she realised now that he never did.

She picked up her suitcase and bag. "There is nothing in the apartment I want. I’ve only taken my personal belongings. Later, I will apply for a divorce."

"A divorce?"

"Yes, of course! We discussed this!" Stephanie fumed. It was typical of him not to listen to her.

"I remember it was the reason for our last fight."

She took a deep breath, not wanting to be reminded of their arguments. "There’s food in the cupboard and all the bills are paid up."

"Whatever," he mumbled.

"Yes, well… Bye then."

"Where are you going to be?" Kevin quickly asked, eyeing the suitcase with distaste.

"I’ll be travelling for a while."

"Can I ring you?" The self-pity surfaced again.

Stephanie sighed in irritation. "No," her tone was firm, as she bent to pick up her case. She put her own keys onto the small table. They lay side by side to Kevin's. Stephanie averted her eyes from them.

"Good bye, Kevin, take care of yourself." She left without a backward glance.

Shedding Skin -2 (Continue)