Chasing Pavements

Smoke

Wednesday came and Maine is at her therapist's clinic on the dot.

"Good morning Maine."

"Good morning, Doc. I thought I was going to be late. I had to drive my son to school and there was a traffic jam."

"No worries, you're here now. So, shall we start?"

"Yes. Where were we?"

"You were wishing you married Alden instead."

"Right.... Well." Maine pauses, and hesitates to continue her story. Why did she even say that to her therapist?

What would she think of her?

"It's okay if you do not want to talk about it right now. Do you want to share anything else?"

"What's wrong with me, Doc?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a married woman, and I am still thinking of someone else."

"What do you think is the reason why you're thinking of someone other than your husband? Is it because he's gay?"

"Mind if I smoke, Doc?"

"Go ahead."

Maine lights up a cigarette and blows out the smoke.

"You know the last time I was held by a man was 6 months ago?"

"M-hm."

"A real man that was Alden."

"Alden again, huh?"

"Yeah. We keep bumping into each other...."

"What happened then?"

"It was a week after I found out about my husband's affairs, with several men... I felt cheated, betrayed. It felt like I didn't know him. I couldn't take it anymore living with this stranger... I HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE..."

Maine inhales her cigarette.