Insane - Who Are You To Judge? (Gripping Psychological Thriller)

Chapter 77 - Harry

"Honestly, don't worry about it, mate – I've got it," James insists. "You go have lunch with Martha and I'll look over the case. Okay? It doesn't take two of us. I can just fill you in when you're back."

Harry sighs. "Are you sure?"

Nudging him, James replies, "Yeah of course. Your marriage is important. Besides, I'm the brains behind this anyway, right?" James says. As he laughs, his belly jiggles up and down a little.

"Okay, okay," Harry finally agrees. "I'll see you in a bit – I won't be long."

Harry arranged to have lunch with Martha because he thought maybe he should start making a bit more of an effort. He wants them to be in a relatively stable place – even if it's all going to come tumbling down.

Speaking of which, he hasn't heard from them since Friday. He's getting worried again, now. What if their guilt at ruining a marriage has got the better of them? Harry feels like lately all he does is try and persuade them not to feel guilty, but he doesn't think it's done much good.

"Hey." Harry greets Martha with a kiss on the cheek. "How has your morning been, babe?"

Martha shrugs. She seems somewhat nervous, as if this is an actual date rather than lunch with her husband. "Same old, really. Just boring office work. How about you?"

"Me too. We think we're slowly scratching away at this case – but it feels like there's still a long way to go."

There's a certain pretence in their tones, today. Both of them are being far too polite. Both of them are smiling as though they are meeting a business partner. Although they are staring right at each other, there is a concrete wall between them.

"Oh my goodness, well hello, you two!" Heidi exclaims as she bounces over. "I swear, I see you guys so often every week but never together! It truly is the craziest thing that you guys don't just run into each other when you're coming in here. My goodness, well it's so nice to see you two together, such a lovely couple." Heidi gasps. "Oh look at me rambling on. Would you believe I've almost got through half my life and I still haven't learnt when to shut my mouth? But anyway, what can I get you two?"

"I'll just have a BLT and a black coffee, please, Heidi," Harry says.

Immediately after, Martha smiles at her. "Can I get the cheese and ham toastie and another cup of the same? Thanks."

When she is gone, they turn back to each other and smile. They've known each other their entire lives, but today they have nothing to say. There's a coldness in the air between them. One that hasn't been there before.

After a few minutes of silence, Harry's vibrating phone saves him. He glances down at the caller ID.

"Sorry, babe," he says to Martha. "Do you mind if I get this? It's the station."

She shakes her head; Harry skids his chair back and heads for the toilet. When he is in a locked stall he picks up the call.

"Where have you been the last few days? I've been calling nonstop. I've been getting worried."

For a long moment, there is silence on the other end before Harry hears a faint sigh and the sound of footsteps. "I'm done. I can't do this anymore."

"What do you mean? After all this, you're going to walk away from me now? Come on, don't do this."

"No. I mean it this time. I can't do it, it's killing me. We're through. Don't contact me again."

The line goes flat.

"Dammit!" Harry exclaims as he punches the wall next to him.

He sits on the toilet seat for several minutes, trying to calm himself down before going back out to Martha. If he goes out in the state he's in now, she's sure to know that something is up.

When Harry has collected his scattered mind, he calms his boiling veins and heads back out to the table. The food has arrived by the time he does.

He breathes the cheesy goodness steaming off Martha's food. "Mm," he moans, "That smells amazing – I should have got that. Oh well, next time."

Martha smiles in response but there doesn't seem to be any sincerity behind her lips. She gulps down a large bite of bread, abruptly places the toastie back on its plate and sits with her back pressed against the chair, staring at him.

He frowns. "What?"

She sighs and then slowly says, "I want a divorce."

Harry chokes on the tomato he is trying to swallow. Once his airway is clear, he looks at her with wide eyes. "What?"

"I want a divorce!" she repeats. As her words spill out, the entire café flicks their attention towards them.

"Martha, you don't mean that. Sure we've been going through a rocky patch lately, but all marriages have—"

"We're not happy, James," she interrupts him.

He drops his sandwich and stares back at her. "You haven't called me that in twelve years."

"I know," Martha mumbles. "I haven't called you by your real name in twelve years."

"That's not my name—"

"Yes it is!" she exclaims. "This is our problem. Don't you see? You never worked through what happened. And I was part of that time, for you. I've come to realise that I am a constant reminder of what happened – and you've never worked through it. After all the therapy sessions, the medication, the illnesses...you pretended that you were fine but you weren't. You're still not. I have a feeling that I'm part of the reason."

"Martha..." Harry begins, although he has no idea where he's going with it.

"We had a good run," she continues. "Really, we did. But I think we're at different points in our lives now. The only way I can be what you need me to be is if I'm not with you. The only way you can become the little boy that I fell in love with again, is if we're apart. I've been thinking about this for a long time now. It's the right thing for the both of us."

Harry is speechless – he can't process what she is saying. It's crazy. He and Martha have been together their entire lives. They can't suddenly be apart.

"I've arranged to stay with my sister until we work out the details of it all and I can find a permanent place to live." After she has collected her coat from the back of the chair and swung her handbag over her shoulder, she reaches out and takes Harry's hand. "We'll still be in each other's lives. It just can't be in the same way." She then bends down, kisses his cheek and walks away. Leaving him there alone.

Harry sits there, motionless. He doesn't know how long for. He doesn't know what to think or to feel.

The thing that scares him the most about this, is that he doesn't care.