I don’t really know where this one came from, it’s obviously not from personal experience, I just thought of it. It’s a little cliche I guess but I think it’s still entertaining. I hope it’s still entertaining.
The Cheat
He sped down the highway, going way faster than he should. Road signs blurred in the corners of his eyes, but he could see clearer than he ever had. He had to make things right. He glanced at the clock on the dashboard, 4:21, he didn’t have that much time. He thought about what he was going to say. Shit, what the hell was he going to say? No, he knew what he had to say. Was he drunk? He couldn’t remember if he was drunk. That probably meant he was, but oh well, there were more important things at hand. The night behind him was a blur. He couldn’t remember making the decision to do this, only that the decision had been made, and that there was no questioning it now. Someone honked as he passed them on the right and he ignored them. He wasn’t sure how fast he was going, the numbers on his dashboard were blurred. Humph, numbers, he’d spent his whole goddamned life with numbers, and where had it gotten him? Here, and where was here? Nowhere.
Actually, here was Newtown, he caught a glimpse of the sign as he sped past. His exit was coming up, he made a mental note not to miss it. He tried to remember again what he was going to say, it had been clear a moment ago. He needed to say he still loved her, but how? He needed more than just “I love you.†She deserved more than just “I love you.†She deserved more than him. Maybe he should let her go. Like in those movies with wild animals, “If you love them let them go.†She was wild, but he was an animal. For her to stay with him would mean her giving up the possibility of a career, a life of her own, away from him. The thing was, he couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t live without her, the past week had made him see that.
He saw one of those green signs approaching, it might be for his exit. He squinted at it as it grew closer. The white blob slowly cleared to form a… 10. Exit 10, that was it. He pulled off. As he reached the end of the ramp he didn’t bother to stop, he just swerved right. Off to the east he could see the sun beginning to rise, a hint of light glowing above the horizon. He came to an intersection, he had to stop a moment and remember the way. It was a… right. He peeled out onto the next street.
The roads in this town were tight, and he was going far too fast, but there wasn’t anyone else out at this time. There it was, her house. Actually her parents’ house, but they spent most of their time at their vacation home in Florida. He could see her car in the driveway as he pulled in, thank god she hadn’t left yet. There were lights in some of the windows too, she must have been getting ready to leave.
He got out of the car and walked, or rather, stumbled, to the front door. He pushed hard on the doorbell. There was no response. He rang again, he couldn’t even hear any movement inside. He banged on the door.
“I know you’re here†he yelled. “Please open the door!â€
A window opened above him, and she stuck her head out.
“Go away,†she said. “I don’t want to see you.â€
“I’m so sorry, I love you.â€
“Sorry isn’t good enough.â€
“I know sorry isn’t good enough, nothing’s good enough for what I did, but it’s all I have.â€
“Please go away, don’t make me call the police.â€
“You’re not going to call the police.â€
“What makes you so sure of that.â€
“Because I know you still love me, as I love you.â€
“Well there you are mistaken, now go away or I will call the police.â€
“Please don’t do that. At least come down here and speak to me face to face.â€
“No, I don’t want to be anywhere near you ever again.â€
“Please, you have to understand. I was an idiot, a fool, I thought there was something more but there isn’t, there’s only you.â€
“An idiot you are, and if I am everything, then you are going to be forever with nothing.â€
“I can’t lose you, look at me, look at what a week without you has done to me. I’m a drunken mess. I never should have doubted that what we had was all there is to life, and I will never doubt again. I just can’t go on without you.â€
“Well you should have thought of that before you slept with that slut from work.â€
“I know that there’s nothing I can ever do that will make up for that, but please, I beg that you forgive meâ€
“No. Go away now. I have a plane to catch.â€
“I could drive you to the airport. Let me drive you to the airport.â€
“No, if you’re not gone by the time I’m ready to leave, I’m calling the police.â€
He knew that there was nothing he could say or do to change her mind. He felt like sitting down on the steps and sobbing.
“Fine, I’ll go,†his voice wavered. “But know this, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if I have to.â€
“And I’ll get a restraining order.†She said, and closed the window.