Never Look Back

The rain trickled gently down the window of the cafe. It was a bitter day, one of the coldest they had had in January. She always liked the rain, it was almost a comforting feeling to sit warm and cosy inside while watching and listening to the pitter patter of rain drops. She had been warming her hands, wrapped round a cup of coffee. She picked up the cup and took a graceful sip. Holding back tears was not new to her, she looked up sweetly, almost like a child looking for sympathy, and forced a sweet smile. His eyes were fixed on her, glaring up from behind his paper. Showing signs of weakness was not acceptable to him, and he was fixed on her every move. It made her feel nervous and she fidgeted a lot. He knew his harsh words hurt her, but he seemed to take some sadistic pleasure in making her feel so small.


She placed the cup back down on the pretty floral china, she had noticed it had the same pattern as the one her grandma used to use for Saturday tea. "Well dear, I have a train to catch" she stood up quickly, almost as if she was in a rush. She was not, her train did not arrive for another hour and the train station was five minutes walk from the cafe. She had planned to use the time to read a book she had picked up in a thrift shop on the way to meet him. He looked up and folded his paper in an almost aggressive manner. "I'll see you soon, sweetheart." She leaned down and hesitantly kissed his forehead.

Walking to the exit of the cafe, she stopped to compose herself, she felt tears welling up and a lump in her throat. She turned and hoped to see some sort of reaction from him, "I love you" he whispered. Half heartily smiling she whispered back "I love you too" he looked back down at the paper. Reaching out to the glass doorknob she turned again, to take one last look at his face, she took it all in, his big deep brown eyes, his wavy brown hair, taking in his features, memorizing his face. She muttered "and goodbye" under her breath. She knew in her heart she would not be coming back, this time. His cruel words had cut her too deep.

Arriving at the train station she placed her bag on the floor and slumped down on the bench, opening the book she read the first line "You should never look back" She smiled and continued to read. Waiting for her train she felt fine. She let out a sigh of relief and wondered where she would be when she reads the last line of the book ...