A Friday Night Like This

I looked at the divorce papers in front of me, tears springing to my eyes. Why? He crossed his toned, tan arms, arching an eyebrow. His dark hair hung limply around his shoulders.

'Go on. Just sign them.' He said, his liquid voice harsh.

I met his dark eyes, which were guarded.

'Please, just anything else. I want this to work. Do you?' I pleaded, placing down the pen I had been spinning between my fingers.

He sighed, closing his eyes.

'You know my answer to that,' he said between clenched teeth. 'But I... I just can't do it. I love you, but this isn't working.'

'We can make it work, baby.' I tried giving him a hug, but he quickly stepped out of my hold.

'Please, don't. Just sign the damn paper, Kellin.' I sighed, picking up my pen again.

'Give me time, please. One more day. I'll sign your papers this time tomorrow.' I tried bargaining with him, buying myself more time.

'Fine. But you better do it.' He snapped, stomping off to his room. His wedding ring was lying on the kitchen bench, blue counter complimenting the ring's shiny gold surface. I picked up the ring and looked on the inside.

Your forever is all that I need.

I took off my own.

They say that love is forever.

Maybe this was his forever. I hoped not.

I went to the couch and arranged the blankets and pillows. I brushed my teeth and changed into my pajamas, listening to Vic turning over in his sleep. I switched off the lamp and snuggled deeper into the warmth, curling my toes.

I fell asleep listening to the faint breathing, my nose under the blankets because it was so cold. I wished I could rewrite the past so that I would still be in Vic's bed with him keeping me warm and I he. A smile slipped its way onto my lips.

'Wake up.' Vic's voice cut through my slumber, and I forced my eyes open, my vision blurry. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the three Vic's surrounding me.

'It's almost nine. Get up.' The real Vic stalked off, grabbing his car keys, the doppelgängers slowly fading. 'I'll be back in a few hours.' I watched him close the door, and I put my head in my hands. Something felt wrong. I inspected my hands and saw that the cool metal band wasn't around my finger. I went over to the bench and saw it sitting there, next to Vic's still. I slipped it on, the ring feeling at home in its groove it had worked on from a year of being there. I grabbed cereal and a bowl, pouring out some cornflakes. I dumped in some sugar and made a coffee. After my coffee was completed I poured the milk in my cereal. I sat at the bench, reading the divorce papers, my cereal nice and crunchy. I sighed as I finished the third page, flipping over to the fourth. An idea suddenly struck me, and I grabbed my laptop, going into Google. I found what I was looking for - marriage counseling. I dialed the number and a friendly voice spoke into the reciever.

'Hi, I'm Misty from Smith Marriage Counseling. How may I help you?'

'Um hi, I was just wondering if there were any available sessions for later this afternoon.' I said, speaking quickly so that I didn't give up.

'Yes, we have an opening at four thirty. Is that suitable?' Misty asked, her tone business like.

'Fine, thank you.' I said, butterflies filling my abdomen.

'The session will run for half an hour, Mr?'

'Fuentes.'

'Fuentes. The first session is free. Goodbye.' Misty hung up, presumably to attend to another client.

That was it. The deed was done. We were now going to counseling. I washed mine and Vic's dishes, then took a shower. I let the warm, soapy water run over my body, instantly calming me down. I came out of the shower and walked into the bedroom wearing only a towel wrapped around my waist. Vic was laying on the bed, playing with his iPhone, his brown hair strewn about him. I grabbed my clothes, an Anthem shirt and my favourite skinny jeans.

'Do you mind?' I asked Vic. He just shrugged.

'Nothing I haven't seen before.' But he got up and left the room, slamming the door. I winced and started dressing myself, stuffing my jet-black hair under a beanie because I couldn't be bothered drying and styling it. I walked into the kitchen and made yet another cup of coffee. Vic was sitting on the couch, watching TV.

'We're going out at four.' I said, stirring my coffee and placing the spoon in the sink.

'That's nice. Have fun.' Vic replied, facing the television. I sighed and walked in front of the TV. I placed my hands on my hips and started talking.

'I said "we" Vic. That means you and I. Together. Get ready. We're leaving in a few minutes.' I slurped my coffee and grabbed my car keys. Vic reluctantly got off the couch and slouched his way out to the car, his body language screaming at me that he would rather be anywhere but here, while I locked up the house. i got into the car and Vic was staring out of the window, resting his chin in his hand. I noticed that his wedding band was still not on his finger. I put the key in the ignition and reversed the car, driving to the marriage counseling.

'Counseling? You've got to be kidding me.' Vic announced as I parked the car in the main street. I shrugged.

'I want to make this work, Vic. You do too, and you gave me one more day to prove it.' I walked into the building, the bell jingling as we entered. Vic trailed along half-heartedly.

'Mr Fuentes?' The reception lady asked. Her wispy blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, she she wore minimal makeup and glasses. She wore a white short sleeved button up shirt, and a navy blazer that came just past her elbows. We both looked over at her, and she glanced at our hands, searching for rings. She found mine, but none gracing Vic's slender fingers. She looked at me and said,

'I'm assuming your partner is still to arrive?'

'Oh no, this is my partner.' I smiled grimly at her, gesturing to Vic. He was currently engrossed in an abstract piece of art on the white-washed wall.

'Oh.' She struggled to compose herself, clearly taken aback. 'Dr Mason will be here shortly. If you could take a seat?' She moved her hand in the general direction of the waiting area, which had cheap grey carpet, a coffee table with assorted magazines and pastel green chairs. I took a seat on one, and it protested with a loud squeak. Vic continued standing, ignoring both of us. I looked at the clock on the wall. It was roughly ten minutes until we had to see Dr Mason. I sighed and closed my eyes, willing for the time to fly by.

'Mr Fuentes?' I heard a female voice say. It wasn't the receptionist, so I opened my eyes to find a woman in a knee-length floral dress and sandals standing at a doorway holding a clipboard. She had rectangle glasses perched on her freckle-dotted nose and her brown, wavy hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. 'I'm Dr Mason. If you could follow me this way.' She turned down a hallway, expecting us to follow. We did, Vic somewhat grudgingly. The walls of this hallway were littered with different posters and methods of saving a marriage. Dr Mason walked into her room, which was painted a neutral tan colour, and invited us to sit on the loveseat across from her. I sat down first, and Vic sat as far away as possible from me.

'Hello, gentlemen.' Dr Mason smiled warmly, shutting the door, it emitting a barely audible "click". 'As you may know, I'm Dr Mason. And you are?'

'I'm Kellin.' I mumbled, twisting my ring nervously around my finger.

'Vic.' Vic said, staring out of the window. I internally rolled my eyes. He could at least try!

'Well then,' Dr Mason started as soon as she realised she was going to get no other reply from either of us. 'how long have you to been married?'

I raised my eyebrows. Wow, talk about getting straight to the point.

'I know I must seem quite forward, but it's very clear to me that only one of you is fighting to stay in this relationship, while the other is ready to let it go. I want you both think quite hard, about when you both realised that you should get married. But first, what year anniversary is this?' She smiled. I pinned her as a romantic.

'It's our fourth year anniversary, but we've in a relationship for... coming up to eight years, is it?' I asked Vic. He shrugged, his mind still elsewhere. I sighed.

'Who proposed?'

'I did.' Vic said, then mumbling something under his breath.

'What made you propose?'

Vic looked taken aback, and he start stuttering. 'I - I guess...' He looked at me, his brown eyes remembering and turning soft. 'It was the simple fact that I love him. I couldn't bear for him to be stolen away from me. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.' His eyes turned steely again, and his tone changed. 'But things change, and there are consequences to past mistakes.'

A lump formed in my throat. Mistake? One of the best decisions of my life was marrying Vic. If I had the chance, I would do it over and over again. But it was quite harsh that Vic didn't think that anymore.

'You said love, then reverted to past tense. Do you still love this man?' Dr Mason picked up on a key word, and Vic glared at her. She turned red under his fiery gaze and turned her attention back to me.

'Yes, I do. But the circumstances are different.' Vic answered her question and she gave a curt nod.

'What made you say yes?' She asked me, her blue eyes piercing my own.

'The exact same reasons. He's my world and I can't bear the thought of losing him.' I longed to reach out and grab his slim hand, which was resting on the loveseat between us. A few more questions later, and Dr Mason said,

'Thank you for your time, gentlemen. Unfortunately, our half hour is up. Would you like another appointment?' She started scribbling a few notes on her clipboard. I glanced down at it and saw that she had been taking notes this whole time.

I replied before Vic could.

'Yes, we do. Are there any times for tomorrow?'

'Why yes, there's an eleven thirty appointment or five o'clock. Which do you prefer?'

'The eleven thirty, please. Thank you.'

'Your welcome, Kellin. Tomorrow's session will cost twenty dollars. I look forward to seeing you again. Tomorrow, I'll see each of you individually, so there will be a bit of homework.' Dr Mason smiled, telling us our task. She walked us out and Misty, the receptionist, waved at us.

'Book them in for tomorrow, eleven thirty.' Dr Mason said to Misty as we walked out, bringing in the next pair.

Notes