Flash Fictions by Benjamin D. Togate

Not Without Luna

When she screamed at him what a worthless piece of shit he was, he finally knew. It wasn't the first time she talked to him that way. Maybe it was the third time. Or the hundreths time. He didn't keep track. But this was the moment he did feel like a worthless piece of shit. And it was the moment he knew he had to leave.

But he was scared. What about Luna? Technically, Luna was her cat.

They decided to get a cat when they first moved in together, in the first year of their relationship, three years ago. She picked out Luna, paid for her, loved her... at first anyways. Times were better back then. He and her talked with love in their voices, with kindness, understanding. They'd take Luna on trips and laugh and sing and dance and have fun.

But slowly and surely, everything changed. She got bitter. Unhappy. They got into arguments more often. She started screaming. Name calling. Gaslighting. You name it. He loved her despite of it.

Sometimes she would apologize and they would try to work it out. But it never really got any better.

Everytime she raised her voice now, Luna would run for cover. Even when they weren't fighting, Luna would sense if she was in a bad mood and would leave, hiding out of sight. When she wasn't around Luna would come out meowing and never leave his side.

He knew it was time to leave. But Luna had to go with him. He knew, his soon to be ex-girlfriend wouldn't allow it. Hell, she probably wouldn't even allow him to leave without a fight.

So he did what everyone getting out of a bad and abusive relationship would do: He didn't tell her anything. After their last particularly ugly fight he pretended everything was alright. He kissed her as she went to work. And as soon as she left he sprinted upstairs and packed his stuff. He stuffed his car full to the brink. He'd toss whatever wouldn't fit. It wasn't important anymore. Like this ratched relationship, he'd leave it all behind.

Except Luna. Luna would come. And she'd stay. Until she'd take her last breath. It was something he has promised her the night before, when he was wide awake, worrying about what lay ahead. He had sensed so much dread, but Luna, snuggling up to him at night, calmed him.

When he had finished packing as quickly as he could, he took Luna and put her in the front seat. He started the engine and took a deep deep breath. It was a breath that was difficult to take. He was taking in the last breath of the life he had known for the past three years. The memories he had made, people he had met, the job he hed held, the women he had loved and hated. But once he pushed all that air out again, right at the moment, as the car was leaving the driveway, he felt an immense sense of relief. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long long time.

With this breath he left his old life full of abuse and anger and sadness and worry and unhappiness behind. Now, he was free.

They were free.

Nobody would ever scare Luna - or him - again. And as he drove futher away and into the desert with his cat in the frontseat marveling at this new, unknown place, he knew, everything from here on would turn for the better.