Without Me

Taylor sighed as she pulled up in the driveway of the house. All lights were off inside. She'd accepted the invite to come have some drinks especially so Eric would beat her home and worry for a change. Obviously, it hadn't worked. For a moment she considered starting the engine again and leaving but she had no clue where to go. So instead Taylor got out of her car and went inside, going straight to the kitchen.

She flipped on a light and pulled a microwave dinner out of the freezer, not feeling like actually cooking dinner. Once the meal was heated, Taylor sat down at the breakfast bar and poked at her food. She lifted a bite at to her mouth but it seemed to hold no taste at all. To distract herself she pulled the newspaper close and started flipping through it.

At the apartment adds she stopped and stared at the page. Without much thought she picked up a pen an circled a few nice apartments in Turtle Cove while still poking at her food. Eventually the food turned cold and Taylor got up, throwing the half-eaten meal in the trash.

In the living room she dropped on the couch and started flipping through the channels on the TV. Soon enough she grew bored of it and with a frustrated growl turned the TV off again. Angrily Taylor stomped upstairs and went to bed, hoping sleep would find her and the morning would bring a better day.

It felt like hours later when Taylor heard the front door open downstairs and she hadn't slept a wink. There was movement downstairs for a few minutes and then footsteps on the stairs. She didn't move when Eric entered the bedroom and prepared for bed. The smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol reached Taylor when he finally settled into bed. She didn't need to turn around to know his back was facing her.

Tears sprang into her eyes and she tried very hard to fight them.

This had been their routine for weeks now. They barely even talked anymore and when they did they'd end up either shouting or not talking.

Silent sobs started racking through her body and she was sure Eric must notice, but he just ignored them. Eventually, Taylor just fell asleep with a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.

The next morning Taylor woke up to an empty bed. Reluctantly she got up and went to take a shower. When she got in the kitchen, breakfast and a mug of coffee were waiting for her. It nearly brought a smile to her face, nearly.

Eric was hunched over the morning paper at the breakfast bar, his own coffee in one hand, empty plate shoved to the side.

'Thanks,' Taylor muttered as she sat down next to him and lifted her fork. Eric didn't even look up and just shrugged.

Silently she ate her breakfast, feeling even more lonely with Eric next to her than the night before. After a few minutes Eric got up, pushing the paper to the side and placing his mug and plate in then sink. 'I'm going to work,' he told her.

'Will you be home for dinner?' Taylor asked.

'I'll try,' Eric offered.

Taylor nodded and silently watched him go. As the front door closed, she glance at the clock. He'd left and hour early. Her appetite was lost and she quickly cleared her dishes too before leaving to work herself.

Taylor finished setting the table that evening, feeling slightly nervous. She opened a bottle of wine and filled the two glasses as the timer on the oven rang. With the lasagne steaming on the dinner table, she sat down to wait for Eric.

Her glass was empty and dinner had gone cold by the time he finally walked in. One look at her face send the message loud and clear.

'How nice of you to drop in,' Taylor sneered.

'Last time I checked I do live here,' Eric grumbled.

'Oh, really? Because lately I've been wondering if you did,' Taylor bit venomously. She was done holding back.

'I'm not the one thinking about moving out,' Eric snapped, pointing at the paper still laying on the breakfast bar where she'd been circling apartments the night before.

'It's not as if it matters to you if I'm here or not!' Taylor yelled. 'You don't spend enough time here to even notice!'

'You're not even really here!' Eric shouted back. 'You've been distant for months.'

'Oh no! You are not turning this on me!'

'I wouldn't dare. You're so perfect that everything is obviously always my fault. If I cramp your style that much, why are you still here?'

'If you don't want me here then just say so! Don't hang around in bars to avoid coming home!'

'I'm not…'

'Like hell you are!' Taylor cut him off. 'Just tell me, what's her name?'

Taylor took a step back when Eric raised his hand, but he dropped it again and turned on his heels. She crumbled to the floor in tears when the front door slammed.

Hours later Eric stood in front of the house. The heavens had opened just after he'd left, but he'd been too proud and upset to return, afraid of what he'd do if Taylor pushed him further. The lights were off inside and he reluctantly walked up to the front door. Keys in hand, he held the doorknob and hesitated. Would she even welcome him back in the house again?

With a sigh he unlocked the door and stepped in. In the kitchen their cold dinner was still left out on the table. He drained the untouched glass of wine before cleaning up. Anything to delay going upstairs for yet another fight. But he could only avoid it for so much and after wiping down the counter for a third time, he admitted he should just go to bed.

In the bedroom he dropped to the empty bed, his head in his hands as he faced the emptied closet.