Goodbye to Gracie May

The images saved on my boyfriend's phone flashed in my mind, they were of a petite blonde woman lying seductively on a bed, as well as the photos I had taken of their conversation together. I pushed through the pain and continue to get ready for the dinner we had planned for tonight. There was no chance I was going to let him off the hook easy and do a clean breakup at home. I was going to attend the dinner and make him realise what he had lost. I picked up my red lipstick and pouting I applied it along my lips. I gave myself a reassuring smile with the lipstick still resting in my hand and my reflection in the mirror smiled back at me. Placing the lipstick on the dresser I seized my car keys and made my way downstairs.

I climbed into the car and hit play on my favourite playlist. The car purred to life as I started the engine and put my foot down on the peddle. 

Just as I arrived outside the restaurant the rain began to fall. I could hear the pitter-patter of the drops on the car roof as I sat in silence for a moment, before plucking up the courage to get out of the car and face the inevitable.

Stepping out I shut the door and locked them then made my way to the entrance of the restaurant. I walked in and glanced around till I saw Kyle sitting at the far end table. Striding over I took my seat opposite him and a waitron made his way to our table filling my glass with the same wine Kyle had already started sipping. I sat there a while and let him ramble on about work and how the guys and him had a weekend away planned. After receiving no reaction from me he frowned, crease lines forming on the top of his forehead. "What's wrong babes," he asked as he took another sip of wine. I mustered up the courage to fake a smile and reply with "nothing".

A waiter made his way to our table and we both placed our order. Once the waiter had headed off we continued with our conversation. As Kyle finished each sentence I just nodded in agreement. Nervousness stirred in my stomach and I wanted to dash the door.

The waitron had finally arrived back with our plates of food and I picked at it with my fork as I puzzled on how to start the conversation that was tugging at the back of my mind.

After a moment of silence I started out saying " Kyle, do you love me?" His expression confused "of course I do, I always have" he says and I want to scream I want to yell at him and tell him how he's a lier and how he took something beautiful and destroyed it all for another woman. I held my tongue and nodded. Another moment passed "Who's the blonde then?" I sneer.

I reached into my bag and pull out my phone. I had sent the images late the night before to myself so that I had them as proof. I open the one where the women was laying on her back completely nude with one hand placed on her left bre**t and the other down where her c**t was while staring seductively at the person taking the photo. I slam the phone down on the table with a bit more force than I intended. Kyle's eyes glance from his glass of wine, to his food, then the phone, as he looks up at me the colour from his face drains to a sickly grey.

He begins parting his lips as if he's wanting to say something then his lips harden in a stubborn line and anger fills his eyes. " What's this all about now Grace!" He demands as anger spits in his voice. "Don't you recognise her" I tease. Of course, he does, he had been seeing her now for almost six months behind my back.

I swear I see a look of remorse flicker across his face but just as quick as I see it, it's gone once again. "You know things haven't been great between us, I get home from work and you complain that I don't help around the house enough, you are always too tired for s** and you seem to always have a problem with me going away for business or out with the boys. I needed some release Grace!" he spits out with anger flaring in his eyes. I am astounded, my mouth dry with a loss for words. I slowly take a breath in and calmly say "I work all day, I get home, cook and clean, I then have studies and on top of that I constantly run errands for you, I cancel plans to make sure I'm available to attend your work functions and I've been paying the rent and petrol all on my own yet while I've been doing all this you have been sleeping around, lying and sneaking out at all hours of the night!" I raise my voice higher than expected as it cracks and I feel tears stinging at the back of my eyes. I hope for a decent reply, a bit of regret or pain but instead, Kyle looks at me as if the blame is all on me. A blank expression on his face as his fists are clenched on the table. "I think we are done here Grace, no need to embarrass either one of us like this. I loved you but I don't feel that way anymore" those words cut through my heart leaving me feeling numb and bare like an open wound.

I slowly stand and as I gather my bag and keys, realisation crosses over Kyle's face and he looks panicked like a dear that's just been faced with headlights. "I'm sorry Gracie I didn't mean that" he whimpers trying to reach for my hand but I had heard enough I knew now how he truly felt. His grand my wrist trying to usher me to sit back down, I yank it away and turn on my heels. I wasn't going to stick around to have my heart torn out anymore. I began walking away and I could hear him calling after me, I didn't glance back as I walked out into the rain.