Wife's Date Night - 750 Words

For those of you who lament my use of 750 words as my medium, tough.

Some people subscribe to the motto, "Finish the Damn Story" I am of the camp, "Get to the Damn Point" I like my stories quick and dirty. They exist for the emotional wreckage, and this medium works for me. There are some stories that I might expand upon and have more fun with, but I don't plan to forget my 750 word projects.

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Mara stood against the counter in the kitchen, her arms crossed, the light catching her wedding ring as she played with it offhandedly. It was a casual gesture, too casual for what she was saying.

"I don't see why you're making this such a big deal, Daniel," she said, her tone dripping with impatience. "It's just. I want more. It's not like I'm asking for a divorce."

Daniel sat across from her at the kitchen table, his fingers laced together as he rested his hands in his lap. He hadn't said much since she started talking. That fact seemed to disturb her a lot more than the actual conversation. Silence fell between them, the air thick and tense, but she plunged onward, undeterred by his silence.

"Look, it's not that I don't love you," she went on, her voice softening almost pleasing, "I do. But I've been seeing someone, and I think. It doesn't have to mean anything, not really. It's about me growing as a person. I thought you, of all people would understand that."

Still, he said nothing. His eyes, dark and steady, never left her face. His silence unnerved her. Daniel had always been so polite, so reliable. He'd never put his needs out in front of hers, never pushed when she needed solitude or space or time. She'd persuaded herself this would be no different. He loved her. Therefore, she would get her way.

"You'll be okay with this," she said, more statement than question. "I need you to be okay with it."

She waited for his response, expecting the wave of calm reassurance that he'd accept this too, just like he had accepted so many things over the years. But Daniel remained silent and immobile, his lips a tight line, eyes unreadable as he stared at her.

"Just go." he said finally, his voice low and even. There was no anger there, no hurt. Just two words, spoken with a flat tone. It threw her off balance, but only for a second.

"Good. I knew you'd come around," she smiled in relief, then glanced at her watch. "I've got to run. Aaron's waiting for me. We can discuss this further later if you need to, but. good, I'm glad you're being so mature about it."

Daniel remained seated as she gathered her things. She really didn't think he would care, didn't think he'd push back. This was finally going as she had hoped.

"Goodbye, Mara," he said low and quiet. He watched her pause at the door. She cast him a quick glance, a half-hearted smile, and then she was gone, the sound of her heels clicking down the front steps, fading away into the darkness.

For a long moment, Daniel sat in the empty kitchen, listening to the house settle around him. Then, methodically, he began to move.

He walked into their bedroom, opened the closet, and pulled out the suitcase that he hadn't used in years. He began to pack. Just the essentials: clothes, his laptop, important documents. Not much was needed. He had been preparing.

He spared a glance around their bedroom. Her heirloom wedding dress, from her grandmother, was packed carefully in the closet. The bedroom set, handed down by her grandfather was her pride and joy. Perfect. He continued his work.

It didn't take him long, the house was almost completely stripped of anything that ever mattered to him. But he made sure not to touch a single thing precious to Mara. He left everything of hers in place. The framed photos on the mantle: pictures from their wedding, vacations, holidays, all her irreplaceable mementos. Her heirlooms, furniture, gifts from family and friends now gone, those all remained.

It was a simple matter to start the fire. As his father used to tell him, Daniel knew enough about electricity to be dangerous. It wouldn't even look like arson, just bad wiring.

He stood on the sidewalk and watched as the flames engulfed the house, without an ounce of regret.

She had wanted freedom, now she could have it.

He stood in the darkness watching the fire consume what had been the center of his life. The orange and red shine reflected in his eyes. Daniel allowed himself a moment of pain, just a moment. Then he was gone.

Mara had no local family, now she had no home. Daniel wondered if Mara's boyfriend would put her up. Probably not. Sophia, her boyfriend Aaron's wife, hadn't seemed the forgiving sort either.