To the Future

“Phew...Today was such a long day.” Amalie chirps, following Steven to the sink. He nods and starts washing his hands. “Hey...Are you okay?”

“Not really...“He looks up and smiles sadly. “You notice the last car that came in?”

“The one that got totaled...guy lost control over his car and drove over a cliff, right?” He nods and moves out of the way.

“Yes...That guy was my sister’s ex-husband...” She freezes and turns around to face him.

“Oh, Steven, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know...” He shakes his head, and hooks his jacket off from behind the door.

“It’s fine, Amalie. We didn’t really get along that well, but still...He was family, even if it was just for five years.” He shrugs on the tattered jacket, and turns to smile at her again. “Until tomorrow!”

Steven drops the keys down on the table, shrugs off his jacket, and enters the living room. Five big steps are taken, and then he finally falls down into his chair. Finally...Home at last. His wife shuffles into the room.

“You’re late...again...” She mutters the last bit under her breath.

“I know...I’m sorry, sweetheart...We had a rough day. It feels like everybody’s car either needed to be fixed today, or they just decided that it was time to scrap it and get a new one. I still don’t know why old Mr. Brown decided to become an auto dealer and open a scrap yard. The man is far too old for this nonsense.” He eases into the chair more comfortably, placing his feet on the coffee table. “Honey, could you please bring me a beer? I just need to sit in peace for a bit...”

“Certainly...” She sighs and shuffles out again, her arm slipping around her abdomen as she leaves the room. She almost thought that he would never get home tonight. But, it would have fit her perfectly.

Returning to the living room with the beer, she finds her husband seemingly having nodded off in his hair. But, her hope is crushed when he suddenly speaks up.

“George is dead...” The bottle slips out of her hand and crashes to the ground. For a moment, they just stare at each other. He then lifts himself out of the chair. “I’ll get a new beer.” She drops down to the ground, shakingly picking up the pieces. George is dead...He’s not going to help me...I have to change my plans; NOW!

Steven enters the living room again, pulling the bottle from his lips. He frowns at the spot on the carpet; Pauline didn’t clean it. What on earth is the matter with her lately? He places the bottle on the coffee table, and marches to their bedroom. Hearing a splash of water from the bathroom connected to their room, he steps inside the room, but comes to a halt at the spectacle on their bed.

Pauline’s suitcase is lying wide open, with a few articles of clothing already folded and placed inside. Around the suitcase, other pieces of clothing, shoes, jewelry, and noteworthy items are lying, waiting to be packed.

“What the hell?” The bathroom door opens, but she freezes at the sight of him. He points to the mess. “What is this supposed to mean, Pauline?! Tell me!!” His voice thunders through the room, and she visibly recoils.

“I...I...I am...” She shuts her mouth and just stares at him.

“You’re leaving?!!!” A small nod from her confirms his fear. Something breaks inside of him, and the next moment he has reached her and has kneeled at her feet. “Please, Pauline! I need you!”

“No, Steven. You just need some woman. Not specifically me.” She steadies her voice and continues bravely. “I’m just there to clean up the mess, cook the meals, and make sure that you have somebody to talk to when you are feeling low. If I’m gone, the next woman will do just fine, like that Amalie of yours.”

“Amalie means nothing to me!” He protests.

“Perhaps...But you always speak of her. You praise her so much...I feel like stuffing my bread knife down your throat every time I hear the conversation turning in that direction.”

“Pauline!” She shakes her head and steps past him.

“It’s the truth. I’ve considered asking her over for tea, a million times over. Each time I considered how I could get rid of her.” She picks up a dress and starts folding it. “Don’t look at me like that, Steven. Yes, I am jealous. I am jealous, because I’m your wife. But, I don’t feel like I am. I am the maid. Good for your use every now and then. But never am I praised or thanked properly. Sure, you praise and thank me, but you offer me hollow words. You never mean it!”

“Pauline...” He rises from the ground, stretching out his hands to her.

“Please don’t interrupt me...I can’t be the second fiddle, Steven. A wife and husband should be one. ONE.” She sternly stares at him for a second, before continuing with her packing. “We are never one. You are the boss, you are important, and I am just the sidekick. I know all about your dreams, your fears, your problems, your successes, your stresses, et cetera. But, do you know about mine?”

“Uhhh...” He uncomfortably pulls his hand through his hair.

“No, you don’t. And I cannot live like this. I have to be heard. I have to be loved. I have to be comforted, praised, motivated, and listened to. A marriage is a give-and-take relationship. And not the one gives and the other takes. It’s an equal giving and taking from both sides.” She shuts the suitcase.

“Pauline...Can we not try? Please? I don’t want us to turn out like George and Susannah...” He reaches out for her, but she steps back again.

“I’m not divorcing you, Steven...” Her voice breaks. “I’m just leaving. I’m reconsidering my life. If I don’t find a new purpose for myself, I’ll come back. But...I think I have already found a new purpose for myself.”

“Pauline...”

“Stop with your ‘Pauline’. No matter how many times you say my name, I will not stay. I may come back, but for now I am leaving. It’s final, okay?!” She lifts the suitcase from the bed and starts for the door. He desperately tries one more time.

“What if I don’t permit you to leave? What then, Pauline?” She turns and pins him with her eyes again.

“You, Steven Smith, don’t have any power over me. I can do what the hell I want to, okay? I’m not breaking any law right now, so keep your almighty ‘Master of the House’ attitude for when you are actually alone and free to play the Master role.”

She trudges out of the room, struggling with her suitcase. Well...It’s done...It’s over...But, I...I’ll be coming back...She sighs. To the future...The future of returning to the man I love. To the future of being the willing slave...The future of being the shadow in his life...To the future, Pauline, you idiot, to the future...