Karma
The man in the corner was watching a woman hugging a tall man with messy brown hair. She was incredibly happy to have her love back, so she didn't notice the man looking at her. All that mattered to her was their reunion. When her eyes finally met his, the love he saw earlier, has dimmed. For a moment, he didn't know, why.
'Because it wasn't for me. It's for him,' he realized a moment later. A thousand thoughts came into his mind, all of them about the unfairness of the situation. 'She should be in my arms. I should be there. She's supposed to be mine. Why didn't she choose me?'
He couldn't bear the sight, he had to look away. He knew that she was following him with her eyes, but he didn't want to look at her. Despite everything, he loved her, so he didn't want to hurt her with crude words. He wasn't sure he would be able to stop himself if he turned back.
After five minutes of pacing, he got a grip on himself and went back to the pair.
She was looking at him again, with a sad smile on her face that was screaming, ' I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.'
He slowly turned to her lover. They looked into each other's eyes, aknowledging each other. There was no need for words, the hate in their eyes spoke volumes.
One hated for not being the first, the other felt it for not being the last.
When her plus one turned his attention back to her, he took it as his clue to leave the room. He didn't say a word to anybody. They couldn't understood. And he really wasn't ready to see the pity in Pete's eyes. Or worse, in Jackie's.
He went to the kitchen, poured himself some tea and sat down next to the only occupant of the kitchen table. For long minutes neither of them spoke.
But after they both emptied their mugs, the newcomer had only one thing to say,
"So this is what being the tin-dog feels like," he commented softly.
