The Tie

Week 4: Day 3

Silence.

Slow chewing and cutlery hitting against the plates sounded so distant as Monica was looking at the tie hung on the chair.

Sitting there, like it was another human being sharing breakfast with them.

When is he going to stop. If James wanted to use Connor's tie to hurt her, then it was definitely working.

She thought having the conversation with him that night would hopefully make him stop wearing it, but no.

Tying it around his neck every morning and sleeping with it in the bed was making literally making her sick in more ways than one.

And it definitely brought up memories too, memories she wished to forget.

Monica contemplated throwing away when he wasn't looking, but unfortunately for her, he had it constantly with him.

Her eyes bore into it as she mentally burned it, cut it, anything to destroy it.

Suddenly the tie moved, snapping her out of her thoughts.

James came into view, silent as ever and signalled for her to tie the tie around his neck.

"No, James." Monica tiredly let out, not even bothering to look up at him.

James scoffed before replying.

"You don't have a say in this. I'm getting late for work, so do what you have to do."

"Aren't you tired of this?!" Monica asked, turning to stare at him.

"Geez, let me think." James acted like he was thinking, which in return made Monica groan in frustration.

"No!" James finally replied after a few seconds. "You did this, so why not live with it?"

"I'm tired, James! Aren't you?! Let's talk about this!" Monica stood up from her chair and walked around him to the sink.

"We did yesterday. Wasn't it enough?" James frustratedly said, scratching stubble forming around his jaw.

Monica sighed before turning around to look at him.

"Talking at 2am in the morning was a bad decision on my part an-"

"And you don't think it's a bad decision to have such a conversation when I'm supposed to go to work?!" James asked. Monica could hear the increase in volume and anger in his voice.

"I have to grab any opportunity that I can get from you because you hardly ever say anything to me!" Monica balled her fists and pumping on them, trying to calm herself down.

"Don't bother because I don't want to talk to you! Ever!" James angrily shouted.

Monica blinked for a couple of seconds and silently walked up to James, looked him in the eyes and roughly pulled the tie from his grap so that she can tie it around his neck.

James's eyes bore into Monica's as he started walking backwards after she was done with the tie.

"Don't bother waiting up for me tonight." James said turning his back to her and slammed the door shut on his way out, causing Monica to jump in fright.

Monica's frowned in confusion. Her legs quickly ran to the door, but by the time she opened it, it was too late because James's car was already out of sight.

What did he mean by telling her not to wait up?!

"No." Monica whispered as she slowly closed the door.

'James would never cheat on me! He's never been the type go for the whole tit for tat thing.' She thought as she shook her head furiously.