Tonight Will Be Different

Tonight will be different and sad. Neither one will sleep. The night will be long and restless for both, and their minds will not rest, mercilessly replaying memories of a life spent together. The bed will seem enormous and cold. The room will be quiet without the familiar breathing and sleep sounds of the other. They will remember, and ask, and regret and cry. They will cry themselves to sleep.

I introduced them to each other ten years ago and they have been together longer than almost any couple I know. I watched them fall in love. I have watched them struggle and learn and grow. I knew things had been difficult the last few years, but I pushed the reality out of my mind. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to remember the things that they would go through if it ended.

But it has ended, and now that remembering is inevitable.

Tomorrow, one will plan to be away so he doesn’t have to watch the other move his clothes to the other bedroom. Later, the closet will finally be big enough—too big actually—even though he always complained that the other hogged all the space. The night stand will not hold the books he has been reading at the interminable rate of three pages a week. His inhaler will be gone as will the small fan he used to create the noise necessary for sleeping.

Everything that was his will disappear. The room will now belong to only one.

Tomorrow will be the first step to putting pieces back together, of making sense and telling each other that it is for the best. Clarity and healing will come with the morning and each slow day to come. but tonight will be different and sad. Neither one will sleep. The night will be long and restless for both, and their minds will not rest.

I know. I remember.

Comments

[colaboy29]

Been there. Done that. It's devastating. :(

[Van]

Sux :(

[MikeyMike]

Never been there....I know that it must suck, though.

[purpletwinkie]

I remember too :(