(Hearts – Martyn Bali)

It was raining, as if the sky needed to let it all out too. The rain didn’t bother you. What bothered you was seeing Noel’s car there. Not at this hour. Not on this street. Not when, deep down, you already knew what was going to happen.

You walked slowly. Silently. There was no need to run. No need to scream.

You already knew.

You had felt it in his lukewarm kisses, in his long absences disguised as work, in the way your eyes had stopped meeting. You knew it from the moment you started feeling alone even when he was in the same room.

You heard the muffled voices through the rain; it sounded like he was arguing with her inside. A girl you only knew by sight. One of those cheap types who think they’re irresistible after a couple of cheap drinks. You weren’t friends with her. Never were. But you knew exactly what kind of person she was. And now, seeing her there, mascara running, coat soaked, with that smug attitude like she thought she’d won something... it confirmed everything.

You heard them and kept walking toward the house, opening the door. He ran a hand through his wet hair, frustrated, and then turned. He saw you.

And he froze. He quickly dismissed the girl from the car and came inside, tossing his keys aside.

Trying to sound normal, he spoke. “What are you doing grocery shopping at this hour of the night?”