“Don’t you see, that the charade is over? And all the best deceptions and the clever cover story awards go to you!”

So that was it, she had found out somehow and now she was kicking him out. It had only been a matter of time really but Evan was sorry that it had come to this; that it had come out like this.

“I never meant for you to get hurt,” he said.

“You never meant for me to find out!” Lucy yelled. She was so angry she thought she might explode. “How do you think I felt reading that message on your phone? Did you think that wouldn’t hurt me? Did you think I’d shrug it off, just go on with my life? For god’s sake Evan! I loved you!”

Loved. The word was like ice. Evan stared up at his wife, at his Lucy standing by the window. It was just as well it was too dark to see her face. He didn’t think he could look her in the eye. He gathered up the bags of clothes she had left on the steps.

“I’ll call,” he said.

“Don’t bother!” Lucy slammed the window shut.

That was the last time he ever saw her.