I Drank The Poison and I Passed The Fuck Out.

Sometimes Love Dies Like A Dog.

Tony.

The drive was quiet.

Michelle and the kids eventually fell asleep.

The sun was high in the mid-day sky, making it unbearably hot outside, and lukewarm in the cab of the truck.

The air-conditioner worked half way, and I had it cranked up to four.

It blew dry cool air for five minutes, then warm air for another five, so it was really useless having it on.

I looked at road signs to tell me where I'm going, and how far I was from getting there.

At the moment we were coming up on the eastern border of Arizona, getting ready to enter New Mexico.

I took off my hat and fanned myself with it.

Madison stirred a little before blinking and looking over at me, "Daddy, hungry." She whined.

"We'll stop up here in Gallup." I said smiling at her.

She smiled back and yawned.

"Michelle." I said.

"Hm?" She asked without opening her eyes.

"We're about to stop to eat in Gallup." I said.

"We're in New Mexico already?" She asked.

"We will be in about ten minutes." I said.

"It's hot babe." She whined.

"I can't help it, it's the desert." I said.

She sighed.

After a few minutes of irritated silence, we crossed the state line to New Mexico.

"Welcome home." I said.

Michelle looked at me and faked a smile, but I could tell she was miserable already.

"It's all going to be okay, I promise." I said.

She fake-smiled again and stared out the window.

This was going to be harder than I thought.

Vic.

It had been a week since I'd spoken to anybody.

I'd been holed up in my house, because I was eaten alive with guilt over what I'd done.

Michelle had called me a few times, but I didn't want to talk to her.

I felt awful.

Marisa had told me in her rant that day, that we weren't finished, but she wasn't speaking to me until I'd had time to think about what I'd done and the marriage I ruined.

They weren't married yet.

But they probably won't ever be now.

I sighed and closed the fridge.

There was nothing to eat in my house, and I hadn't showered in seven days.

I decided I'd have to go grocery shopping if I wanted to keep up this hermit routine.

I showered, shaved and put on the cleanest clothes I could find.

Laundry was another thing I needed to do.

I picked up my keys and locked the door behind me.

Then for no reason, I stopped and looked under the mat to see if the spare key was there.

It wasn't of course, I'd given it to Michelle ages ago.

I walked past my mailbox, overflowing with bills and letters, and got into my car.