 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Good Day? |
|
|
|
Emma woke with a start. Her head was pounding and her mouth was dry. The light pierced her brain as it streamed in through the flowery curtains. |
|
|
|
'Flowery curtains? Huh, where the hell am I?' she asked herself, foolishly trying to sit up. Her head ached as she turned and her stomach churned, lurching further when she realised to her horror that she was not alone...there was an ominous lump beside her in the bed, the shape of a nameless human. She briefly toyed with the idea of putting out a tentative finger or two to explore, but thought better of it. If this one was a monster, she preferred to let sleeping monsters sleep... |
|
|
|
She rolled to the side of the bed, hoping her companion would not wake. She prayed that she could avoid the embarrassing small talk that would ensue, and the empty promises to ring in a couple of days.... |
|
|
|
She slipped from the bed, located most of her clothes and tiptoed out of the door. Breathing a sigh of relief as she leaned against the closed door, she arranged her clothing as best she could and made her way gingerly along the street. She was hugging the buildings in search of elusive shade; the sunlight searing her eyeballs and slicing into the pain that was her head. |
|
|
|
About half a mile from home she was relieved to see that Costa's coffee shop was open and she sat at a table inside the door and ordered orange juice and black coffee. She followed this with more coffee to accompany toast and marmalade in an attempt to settle her body's screams for nourishment and care. She couldn't quite bring herself to attempt the full breakfast recommended in all the popular magazines as a hangover cure, and she certainly didn't want to even see the dog that bit her, let alone imbibe a hair of the creature. At this precise moment, fry up was synonymous with throw up...and the thought of more alcohol chilled her soul. |
|
|
|
Emma returned to the flat to find Gavin had already left for his usual morning run. He was such a creature of habit. What she had once seen as stability now felt more like boredom. She felt grubby and realised she ought to shower away the evidence before Gavin got home. Even Saint Gavin's patience might be tried by the smell of another man on her skin. |
|
|
|
Gavin returned home as Emma was towelling herself after her shower and she felt human again. She danced away from Gavin as he tried to hug and kiss her |
|
|
|
'You stink' she complained 'Go have a shower you smelly beast' |
|
|
|
He laughed and made another half hearted lunge at her |
|
|
|
'Piss off Gavin' |
|
|
|
'Aw honey...' he gave her his best puppy dog look and she glared at him in return. |
|
|
|
When he came out of the shower, all shiny and clean, wrapped in a towel and bearing a huge bouquet of red roses, she felt the guilt rise up like bile in her throat. |
|
|
|
Emma didn't know quite how or why the row started, but she soon found herself screaming at him and he was just standing there looking at her. All the magazines she'd ever read said that attack was the best form of defence, but Emma was out of control now, heading squarely for self destruct. |
|
|
|
'You're pathetic!' she screamed 'Say something why don't you?' |
|
|
|
Gavin looked dejected, his plans for proposal forgotten, as Emma spoke ... |
|
|
|
'If you must know' she heard herself saying 'Last night I went to a party with some guys I met in town' |
|
|
|
Gavin listened as she told him about the party, the guys she met, the liquor they had drunk, the music they danced to...Already half knowing the horror of what was coming next he just stood, with his hands limply by his side, looking at the woman he loved as she continued to scream at him. |
|
|
|
'Yes, yes, if you must know I did sleep with somebody' she could hardly believe she was saying this, she hated herself for hurting him this way. Why didn't he stop her? He only had to say the word and she would throw herself at his feet and beg forgiveness |
|
|
|
'And it was good.' She added spitefully 'Really good if you must know' she was gathering speed now 'and do you want to know why I did it?' she glared at him, her face flushed with indignation |
|
|
|
'Do you?...do you Gavin?' She paused, turning her back on him for effect 'do you really want to know? Gavin, talk to me.... Gavin?' |
|
|
|
Suddenly she realised that she was alone and feeling rather foolish, she stopped her tirade in mid flow. |
|
|
|
She waited a few moments, listening, but heard no sound so she yelled spitefully 'I did it because you're so bloody boring' |
|
|
|
She crossed the room and turned on the stereo, the throbbing base of the dance sounds she liked so much filled the room immediately and she felt some small satisfaction knowing how much Gavin hated this music. Strangely the music calmed her and she called his name, but got no answer. She hadn't heard the slam of the door to indicate that he had left |
|
|
|
'He's probably sulking', she thought to herself. |
|
|
|
Realising that she was still holding the damp towel in her hand, she walked slowly to the bathroom to hang it on the rail. She was feeling relaxed now, all venom gone. She hoped that Gavin would be back soon so that she could apologise and they could kiss and make up. She really did love him... |
|
|
|
It wasn't until she turned around to leave the bathroom that she noticed something rather odd... a pair of bare feet, swinging slightly under the shower curtain. |
|
|
|
Emma heard a scream. It was a piercing wail, the cry of a wounded animal. The scream was heard two streets away and continued long after they had cut him down and taken Gavin's body away. This was definitely not a good day. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Back |
|
|
|