THE MARKING

I found him, working on his truck, in the garage at the back of the house.

He was smiling with opened arms waiting for me to walk in to them

“You don’t mind walking into grease right?”

My face was blank, I could not give any reaction

I was hurt

“Hello,…..mate”

His smile faded and his face dropped also with with his opened arms

“How are you, mate” I over emphasized

“Mate”?

He was silent

“Mate?”

“How’d you find out?” He finally asked after some seconds of silence and he started wiping his hand on a clean towel, trying to busy himself and not look at my face.

“How did I find out? Are you serious Caine?”

“Hazel” he reached out for me but I pulled my hand away

“Since when have you known?”

“The first day”

“All these while, all these treatments, all these lie, lying with me every night, buying me gifts, it was all a joke to you!?” My voice was going up

“I know I’ve been the worst, but I’ll love and treat you better if you let me”

“If I let you?” I scoffed in mockery

“You had the cha