The Sun was starting to descend and the light that shone through the windows was starting to disappear. It was time to admit that the darkness was arriving earlier and earlier as the days faded away. Nobody in the house wanted to admit to this darkness.

She sat in the kitchen staring out the window when she heard him come in.

'I'll be alright you know,' she said 'I won't be lonely, I'm never lonely.'

He dropped his front door keys next to her.

'I didn't think it was going to come to this,' she said 'I didn't think you could treat me like you have. I've done nothing wrong.'

She looked at the picture of her son on the other side of the room.

'It's not going to be easy telling him you know' she said, 'it wasn't easy telling him the first time. What am I supposed to tell him now?'

'Tell him what you told him last time,' he said, 'it's not my lie to tell any more.'

'How can you be so cruel to us?' she said.

He shook his head and turned to walk away from her. He did not want to look at her again. He marched out of the room into the hallway.

She looked at the picture of her son and walked straight after him. She stood in front of the door.

'I still need you to see him' she said.

'You what?' he said.

'You can't walk out on him. Not you aswell. You need to be here for him,' she said.

'Get out of my way. Your predicament has nothing to do with me.'

He reached for the door. She bit his hand.

'You stupid bitch.'

'I did it for my son,' she said.

His finger was bleeding. She had drawn blood from him.

'You're not going,' she said.

He reached over and grabbed her arm. He threw her to the floor. There was little distance to fall.

She started to cry. He stared at her.

'Look what you've done to me.'

He reached out with his hand. She smacked it away.

'I hope you feel guilty, I hope you know what you've done.'

He looked at her.

She kept crying, but there was still no sign of

any tears.

'I want to go,' he said, 'just let me go, I didn't start this.'

Nobody had bothered to switch any lights on and the house started to grow darker. He found it difficult to make out what she looked like.

She rubbed her ankle from the fall.

He stared at her.

'I'm going now,' he said.

He went to open the door. She crawled to him.

She dug her nails in.

'Please don't go,' she said, 'I might end up on my own.'

He turned to look at her. She had finally mustered some tears but they were not heavy enough to fall down her face.

She refused to release her grip. He grabbed her wrist and looked at her. She gave up the grasp.

He opened the door and left.