"Where do I start?" I half-heartedly laughed. "I've been putting on a brave face these last few months. I haven't been happy, I've been living with a man that has brushed me aside, rejected my help while he recovered… and then abused me."
"Jill? I don't understand. I assumed you were getting on fine."
"Rather than accept my help after the shooting, he turned to alcohol. He pushed me away at every opportunity. I was fighting a losing battle. The wakeup call came when I came home from work a few days ago to find him already there. He was blind drunk. I challenged him, trying to make him see the drink wasn't helping, but during the blazing row he raised his hand to me…" I trailed off.
"My god. I had no idea."
I continued to explain how this had occurred over the past few months, how after he had raised his hand to me was the final straw and I had to leave. The fact was we were falling out of love weeks ago before I realised he had been drinking, but with nowhere else to go I was stuck there. You see my house was actually his house after we moved in together so it was difficult to leave.
"Have you brought anything with you? And what about the children?"
"I have some bags in the car, just a few bits for now until I decide what I'm doing next. The children are staying at the child minders, I had pre warned her. I mean I have nowhere to go now. It's his house. What a mess."
"Well you can stay here tonight."
"And after how I treated you I'd totally understand if you don't want to help me."
"Of course I will help you Jill. I loved you once, I, guess if I'm honest I still do." He revealed before changing the subject. "Anyway give me your keys I'll go and get your bags." He got up and waited for me to hand over my keys which I retrieved from my handbag.
"Thank you." I whispered as I put the keys in his hands.
I got up and scanned the room. Nothing had changed. Picking up a photo of him from way back when I smiled. The stories he had told me about this photo. Stories I was used to hearing, stories I had missed hearing.
"You're bags are in my room."
I placed the photo back down and looked at him alarmed.
"You always liked that photo." He smiled. I too smiled back. "I'll go and make the spare bed up, you can take my room tonight." He offered, handing me back my car keys.
"You're so kind." I cried.
"Hey come on." He soothed, pausing for a moment before eventually putting his arms around me and holding me. Holding me how he used to hold me. "Why don't you go upstairs and get yourself to bed. You're tired and you could do with the rest."
We broke away from the embrace.
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Night." I smiled at him before heading upstairs.
Closing the door to the bedroom we once shared I flopped down on the edge of the bed. My hands supported my head as I sat there and thought. Had I done the right thing in leaving him? Leaving the only home I had and expecting to get help from this man right here.