The air was sad with tension in the living room. Laura sat  strictly on the edge of the cream leather sofa, her fingers comfortably running along the rim of her untouched teacup.

Curtis stood erect, completely detached.

“I’ve signed everything. The lawyer will send you the final announcement on Monday,” he said.

Her suitcase was prepared by the door, as if the twelve years of marriage they shared were just a temporary break in both of their lives. Laura didn’t answer.

But now that she was here, all she could do was gaze at the man who had once been her future.

“We weren’t going anywhere, Laura. No children, no spark. I can’t keep waiting for something that will never occur.”

“I tried, Curtis,” she whispered.

“I wanted it too,” he replied but he had already opened the door.

Outside, a red SUV was waiting, and in the passenger seat was Carol, the girl from the office, always graceful, with high heels and red lipstick, and no history with him.