I don't own any of these characters, I just thought this might make a good story. Let me know what you think!


Him

He tossed and turned unable to sleep. Sunlight seeped through the thin curtains bathing the room with a yellowy glow. Dust circled in the small shaft of light pouring from the gap between the curtains. He watched it for a while before sitting up slowly and looking to his left where she was sleeping peacefully, curled up in the foetal position. She slept like that when she was anxious or scared of something. He knew she'd been sleeping in that position a lot lately, not that he ever told her. He would scare her more if he did. In one fluid motion he climbed out of the bed and padded across the room to the wardrobe dressing as silently and quickly as he could. He didn't want her to see him. As soon as he'd put his belongings in the small rucksack he'd left on the desk, he left the room and slipped down the stairs to the kitchen.

The kitchen was a large room filled with cupboards. A small oven and hob sat next to the large sunken sink, a small fridge next to the door. He opened the fridge and pulled out the small lonely bunch of grapes he bought late last night for his breakfast this morning. Without hesitation he pulled a handful of grapes off the vine and threw them one-by-one into his mouth before sitting at the old oak table. Worn and faded, the table looked like it had seen better, happier days and was a perfect reflection of his feelings. Tired and rough but still loved. He slowly put the bunch of grapes into his rucksack and pulled out a piece of paper and pen.

The second the pen touched the paper words spilled onto it filling it before he knew what he was writing. Eventually, the letters stopped to flow and he looked down at the paper for the last time before signing it and folding it in half neatly. He propped it against the fruit bowl in the middle of the table, picked up his rucksack and left the house.

Her

As the door slammed she woke up. 'He's gone to work early' she thought to herself as she got up. She made the bed and dressed carefully. She opened the curtains and allowed the sunlight to spill into every corner of the room, watching the birds fly outside made her feel apprehensive. Today didn't feel like a normal day, he hadn't woken her with a cup of tea to say goodbye as he left for work. As she tidied the room the eerie feeling followed her like a cloud of dust.

She wandered downstairs trying to shake the feeling of apprehension away, expecting he'd left in a hurry and had forgotten to bring her a cup of tea. She entered the kitchen and instead of seeing the cup of tea she was expecting there was a note. Had she forgotten a birthday or anniversary and he was just reminding her? Did she have an appointment he was telling her about? She sat down at the table and pulled the note towards her. Something still didn't feel right. She tentatively unfolded the note and began to read:

My darling Lily,

Please forgive me for what I've done, but it's for the greater good. I don't know how long I will be away, but please know I will never stop thinking about you. The day we married I made a promise to love and support you forever and you will be in my heart wherever I go. By leaving you I believe it's the only way I can protect you and keep you safe. I never want anyone to hurt you, although I know it hurts me to leave you. You will be safer without me, we all know it's me they want and not you. We may not be in contact for a while, but I will try to send word to you whenever I can. As soon as I've sorted everything I'll come home. Everything needs to be put right. I'm so sorry. I love you.

Forever yours,

James