Curtains Closed

Chapter One

My hands wrapped round the back of her, hers wrapped round mine. I ran my fingers through her smooth hair gently, she scrunched mine at the back of my head and pulled it slightly. She was the best thing for me. She pulled away "Alex, I should probably go"
"You sure? It's hasn't been 'at long"
"Yeah. I've got work tomorrow though" she said quickly
"Oh right, yeah, yeah I forget sometimes" I said looking out the window into the gloomy sky
"Well bye" she said, snapping me back into reality
"D'you want me to walk you 'ome?"
"No, it's okay" she said with a smile which lit up the room
"Right-yeah-see you later I guess" I said as she walked out the door "love you"
"Right, bye" she said, leaving.

She'd been acting differently lately, but I assumed it was because of how busy she was at work. Whenever I'd ask her though, she'd change the subject, and say I wouldn't understand.

I went over into the kitchen, trying to keep it in the back of my mind, I had to be there beside her no matter what. I looked in the cupboard and couldn't find anything to eat as a proper meal for dinner, so I just got some toast with jam on.

I went outside and ate it while having a cigarette, after finishing, I tidied up then went into my room and had a play round on my guitar, trying to figure out some new tunes. I hummed along as I played a song, but I gave up after I forgot the rest, then put it on the stand and went to sleep.

I woke up in the morning and saw a message on my phone from her, asking if I wanted to meet for lunch, I replied saying yes. I hardly ever saw her during the day.

I put on my leather jacket and and shoes then ran my fingers through my hair. When the time came, and I went down to a little unknown cafe where we'd arranged to meet. I saw her in there already, then jogged over. She gave me a small smile, "do'ya want anything love?" I asked
"Nah, I've got something" she said as she gestured to her coffee on the table she was learning on
"Well, I may just grab something, you sure you don't want food?"
"I'm okay" she said, then looked down at her phone. I walked over and ordered a coffee, then went back to her once I'd got it.

"So how're y-"
"Alex" she interrupted
"Yeah, you okay?" I asked, she rested her head on her hand, then ran it through her hair
"Well, I'm just" she stopped to look at me "I'm just not sure this is going well."
"What, us?" I was confused
"Yes Alex" she said annoyed
"Do you just want a break or to..." I trailed off, finding it hard to look at her
"No Alex, look" she put her hand on my chin for the last time, then pulled it up to look at her "it's not working okay?"
"I can change-"
"No it's not that, it's just" she moved her hands with each word "we can't even go round together because of the media, we're always cooped up somewhere. I don't want to carry on like this"
"Are, are you sure?" I stuttered
"Yes" she said firmly
"Okay then" I said trying to sound normal, yet so much pain was on the inside "bye I guess" I wanted to go before I got even more upset. I started to move away, holding my coffee in my hand
"Wait-Alex, I should tell you this" I looked back at her "I've," she sighed "I've been seeing another man"
"What?" I walked back to her "who? How long?" I asked
"Some guy at work for the past few months, I didn't actually get a promotion, I was just spending time with him" I felt it then, a hard punch right in my chest
"That's really low" I said offended "you couldn't at least dumped me before. Does he even know?"
"I told him a few days ago, I promised I'd cut it off with you, Alex it's not his fault, it's no ones really-"
"Are you fucking serious? No ones fault?" I asked "look, it's not even because you're breaking up with me, it's that you had the nerve to cheat and not even tell him or me"
"Alex, I'm sorry I didn't think he and I would last"
"Look, I'm sorry I even trusted you. It's the second time that something like this has happened between us, I should've known" I walked off, not wanting to hear anything else. I threw my drink in the bin as I left, I could hear it splash down the sides then land at the bottom. I went home as quickly as I could.

Once I got in I went over to a wall and punched it as hard as I could with each hand for a few minutes. I kicked it then went over onto the couch and looked at my phone, a text from her asking if she could get her things back, I got up and pulled her clothes out of my drawers, her perfume, brush, and hair bands and put them all in a bin bag. I went down to my car and drove to her flat then got out and rang her bell, dropped off her things, then started to leave. She ran out "Alex, I know I should've told you"
"Yeah you should've, and fuck off. It's too late" I went over to my car and drove off back to my apartment.