"Good morning, Master Bruce," Alfred said to Bruce when he found him sitting in the foyer.
Alfred was surprised to find Bruce in the foyer by the front door, wearing a jacket. Bruce was supposed to be entirely committed to his at-home rehab. He was not supposed to leave Wayne Manor at all.
"Is everything alright?" Alfred asked, able to tell that Bruce was distressed.
"No," Bruce answered. "I have made an enormous mistake and I need to fix it."
"And you need to leave the Manor to fix this problem?" Alfred asked.
"I left," Bruce confessed. "I've already left. Just got back. Adriana is not here."
"Well, I am sure she will return soon," Alfred said, not sure why Bruce seemed so upset.
"She may leave me, Alfred," Bruce said. "This time I...I really.."
Bruce leaned forward and began to rub his forehead with one hand.
"May I ask what happened?" Alfred asked.
Bruce looked up at Alfred and took a breath. Alfred had assumed that Bruce had broken his agreement for the at-home rehab arrangement.
"I've been in a lot of pain," Bruce said. "I needed something to take the edge off and she found it. She asked me to choose...between her and the pills and I left....."
"Bruce," Alfred said, his voice comforting. "Perhaps you should consider taking the course of action she wanted you to."
"Rehab," Bruce said. "Rehab where I would have to be away from my son and wife for a month or more. Away from home. I can't...I can't do that."
Bruce sighed.
"But if I don't go, she may kick me out again," Bruce said.
"When has she kicked you out?" Alfred asked, confused.
"When she found out I was living at the Four Seasons," Bruce answered. "She told me not to come home. She called me shortly afterwards to tell me ro come home because of that Catwoman's threats. I don't think that will happen twice. She will send me away again. This time permanently."
Alfred sat next to Bruce.
"Bruce if I may," Alfred said.
"Yes?" Bruce asked.
"I was not present to see whatever occurred this morning," Alfred said. "Do you truly believe Adriana would end your marriage over what happened?"
Bruce paused, swallowed and looked away. He replayed it in his mind. He remembered feeling a frantic and desperate need for his medication. Nothing else mattered at that moment. And when she told him that the pills had been flushed, he felt furious but also determined. Determined to get what he needed.
Once he had what he needed he could deal with all the rest. Once he had his medication, he could deal with her. He tried to remember the look in her eyes before he walked around her, leaving. Did she look upset? Was she in tears?
She didn't. He wondered if he should be relieved, but he ended up feeling sudden hopelessness. She was not upset.
She looked apathetic and indifferent. He felt his hands go sweaty as he remembered her expression. Or lack of expression. They had been through so many rough patches. He remembered telling her about his affair and how little her expression had changed. He didn't know if she was feeling anything, but he could tell at least at the time, that she had a wall up. She was not allowing herself to feel pain because he had slept with another woman. He knew she was feeling more than what she was showing him. But this time was different.
