15

Seven years ago, he said he was almost finished with her. Only a couple of months later he broke my heart into a thousand pieces when he announced to everyone that he and Helen had eloped, and he had popped her cherry. He announced it in the bar in front of everyone giving me no heads up or inclination of what was happening. Alan told us all he and his gorgeous wife were off to start a new life in Germany. He didn’t even make eye contact with me, he just acted like I didn’t exist or matter. He just sat there pulling Helen all over him, pawing at her and bragging about her.

Later that same night he came into my bedroom through the window, and we made love for the last time. I didn’t know it was going to be the last time but he basically called it a leaving present afterwards. I wasn’t sure if that was for me or him.

I point out the small photograph of him and Helen on their wedding day and Alan scowls at me. “Not now, Mel, for fucks sake,” he snarls at me before placing the photograph