The phone was ringing. Looking at the phone face she saw ‘Johnny’, Johnny, her devoted husband. She knew what he was going to say. There wasn’t mych point answering the phone really but she still went through the motions. She swiped the green button and said “Hello darling.” She always tried to sound cheerful and fun and carefree hoping that he might choose her, even if it were only the one time. He hesitated before he spoke. She knew. Her heart felt like shards of glass were sticking into it. “Hello, I’ve got to work late again. I’ve got to get this portfolio done by tomorrow. If I don’t there’ll be hell to pay. His voice carried on but the words didn’t sink in, it was just the same old lies. “Thanks for ringing honey.” She said

“Don’t wait up” he said.

She always felt she betrayed herself after such phonecalls.

She should have been enraged and forceful and told him hed better come home straight away or she’d phone his boss directly and ask him to stop absolute exploitation of loyal employees.

Whats the point of forcing someone to be where they didn’t want to be. He’d be all sulky and full of melancholy. Being with him while he was unhappy made her more jealous of the happy times he must be spending with ‘her’, the other woman.

She took the bottle of sparkling wine from the fridge and poured herself another glass. She sat, alone with only the tv for company and nodded off.