She loved him like a husband for fifteen years, but there was no sex involved. She was firmly married and although she would have the occasional sexual dream about him, all she longed for was to be comforted by him on the days when things got rough as they often do in middle school.
He bought her a little glass collectible, like something out of “The Menagerie.” He was so proud of that gift. She thanked him and said, “Oh, how sweet.” Although it was not her style at all. She was the closest thing he had ever had to a wife and sometimes, like in any relationship, things got tough.
“Why does this always happen on a Monday?” she questioned him.
He spent most weekends alone with his two best friends: beer and wine. He didn’t consider himself to have a problem since it wasn’t hard liquor. But when the primary thing on your mind is delving into a six pack for starters… you have a problem.
As he handed her the gift he said, “I hope Jack won’t take offense by this.”
She said, “No, don’t worry about that.” But she thought to herself, “Ha! Are you kidding? Have you seen my hands? A ring on every finger!” She and Jack were solid.
After so many Mondays of bad temperament, yelling, and sending kids to the principal’s office for no apparent reason, she had had enough. She finally broke down and screamed at HIM for a change. “I am sick of this. Why does your bad mood always occur on a Monday? Have you thought about that?” He was like a errant father attacking his kids from the edge of a hangover. She was like a mother lion defending her cubs. He was defensive.
“I want a divorce!” she proclaimed. He was taken aback, hurt as if he had been slapped by her accusations. But things got worse from there. Parting was more difficult than anyone imagined, like a divorce that no one wanted. But it had to be. No one had any control over it. The end was simply the end. It was an outside force.
She left and he stayed. They only spoke once after the break up and that was when she called to apologize for anything and everything. The apology was not reciprocated. The alcoholic never blames himself.
(First published 1/9/12)
