Anniversary

He met me for coffee one morning. We sat on the patio, lost in our own thoughts for a while.

He was the first to break the uncomfortable silence. “So, now what?”

“We stick it out. We’ll take turns sleeping on the couch. There’s a lot to do here. We can avoid each other.”

“Oh, that’s rich. A dead relationship and you want to stay.” He was quiet for a minute. “Although there is that water skiing class. And pickle ball.”

“See? We can do different things. We paid for everything. I will not be a spoiled sport and leave. I’m not tossing our life savings since we’re already here. And we wouldn’t get any sort of refund.”

Another uncomfortable silence followed.

He couldn’t look at me as he said, “I don’t love you. Hell, I don’t even like you right now.”

“The feeling is mutual. Put on your adult panties and deal with it.”

Glaring at me, “Why do you make everything so difficult?”

“Because I’m a snippy bitch and hold a grudge. It didn’t work. We had some good years, didn’t we?

“I hate it when you’re right. But yeah. We did. How did we screw up?”

“By getting married.”

What Hides at Night

I don’t mind going outside. I smoke less when I do. But I hesitate to venture outside at night anymore when I do want a cigarette.

There are things out there. Only my fellow smokers can see them. And it’s only at night. During the day, I see nothing. They’re waiting for nightfall.

At night their eyes glow. They watch me. And they wait. I know what they are waiting for.

I’m getting worried that one night I won’t be able to come back. They won’t allow me back inside.

The door going back in is sticking.