I've had some atrocious cups of coffee in my time she said. But this is so bad it makes even you look like a good person. It's like you chose it for the contrast.
I like bad coffee, I say, suppressing the urge to grimace after the last sip.
Humph.
Well I do. What, you want me to take you out to the Ritz to tell you to fuck off? Oh Caroline, please!
Don't swear at me David, she says quiet as a moth.
I can do whatever the hell I like.
You never said a truer word. She turns to look at the departures board. Look is this going anywhere because I'¦
Yes. I mean no. I begin tapping the tabletop and watching the sugar granules judder into one another. It's going nowhere that's why we're here. You know I've been with someone else don't you?

I can see by the way she visibly contracts, winces, that she doesn't. And I wasn't expecting that. I suppose because my activities had been so major to me I'd imagined they'd been painted in neon across my forehead from the very first night. To think she'd been so completely oblivious was rather a shock.

David, I don't think I can deal with this right now'¦ she wipes her mouth with a napkin and tries to stand up but soon flops back into her seat. She is waiting for me to say something amounting to an apology but I can't speak because inside there's a thing like a lightning storm sparking down my throat.
Oh for Christ's sake David say something!!
Don't curse Caroline, I mumble enjoying the cool rush of air before the woman's fingers slam across my cheek.
You pig, you selfish, obnoxious, lying, pleasure-seeking pig! She cries as she speaks. Do you know what , it took me years to be persuaded by you. You wanted me! You called me everyday and I loathed you at first but then I thought, (and how pathetic is this) better to marry someone who worships you than someone who demands worship themselves.
You knew we were having problems.
Yes but I loved you David and, she quietens and says sternly with wet eyes, and I thought you loved me too you bastard.
As she rushes to leave her chair goes flying and tumbles into the glass window so that as I watch her pussy-foot away across the platform her image appears to shiver. Oh well, that's the end of that one I think and downing the dregs of coffee feels like a punishment I can endure, like the prisoner's final walk towards the gates and freedom.

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