Intermission

This was my world. A one room flat high above the normal arteries of life below. A lump of mattress for a bed. That tattered photograph that stared back at me and a bag containing all the meaning of my life to date. I blinked and the room was still there. It did not dissolve into the lush green meadows that I had fantasized in vain. Rousing up groggily from the bed, I bent my head and let the reality of this miserable life sank in.

It seemed a long time before I heard the banging and shouting behind the door. The landlady was demanding for the rent I hadn't paid. I tried to ignore her but she was persistent and she wanted her money. Ultimately, she threatened me with the police. "Bring them here then!" Finally I could no longer stand her hoarse shouts and threw a glass against the door. The shattering of the glass was invading in the quiet of this room. Thankfully the swearing ceased and I was at peace again.

My restless eyes shifted around my dark cell. Its miserable contents were all but appealing. The neon lights outside the streets gave what little illumination it could penetrate into this gloomy interior. The flashing car lamps brought the room alive with distorted, moving shadows. A beam of light played across the only photograph I possessed on the termite-bitten coffee table. The face of a woman with flowing brown hair and soft warm eyes appeared for a moment, and then vanished as the lights outside disappeared around a bend. But the picture of Jamie would always remain in my memories. Jamie that was my wife, a mother to my son and a soulful companion that I thought I would love for the rest of my life. Then, Jamie was liar, a betrayer. Her shameful affair was talked about even before I knew of it. Yet she continued to deny it against all evidence. I had been hurt deeply by her careless and thoughtless actions. Then anger slowly seeped into my veins and I went into a raging fit. Madness blinded me and I had slapped her across the face. Denny was crying when I stormed out the door. I did not turn to look at her; the pain was too much to bear.

After that, impending loneliness drove me to commit the stupid act of robbing my own money from the shared account. I had thought that the wretched woman should not have my hard earn savings. I was willing to go to jail as long as I would not have to split my possession after the divorce. I was determined to divorce her and I was prepared to fight for Denny's custody no matter what it took.

I walked to the stained window and looked down uncaringly at the commotion below. A car had knick a bicycle and the teenager was having it out with the businessman in fancy suit and tie. Jamie went off with a real estate agent. I forced myself away from the window. The tears of self-sorrow disgusted me and I tried to force it back. Without any guilt of regret, I picked up the duffel bag on the bed and opened the zipper. The crisp smell of printed bills enlightened my spirits suddenly. I dipped my hands into the papery texture and tried to search for a hundred. That would settle the rent. The blabbering of a sixty-five year old lady was more than a man could take. Then the thought of the rest of the money brought a wave of exhilaration. What was I to do with all these money all to myself? What surfaced in my mind was not really practical but the money was mine. I had worked half my life to accumulate them. It was only deserving that I be able to enjoy it.

I looked at the dilapidated apartment again. Lumpy bed, stained window and the faulty tap leaking in the yellowed bathtub. It was time to have a change of scenery. Probably one that would fall short of my imagined expectations but certainly something better than this sorry state of a pad. Something more hospital for one.

Quickly I put my clothes on and slung the bag over my shoulders. As I reached the door, I turned back to face the room. "Now it's my turn to play." I felt the forgotten twitch of a grin spreading slowly across my face. Through the door I heard the stamping footsteps of the landlady coming up the stairs again. Didn't sound like she brought company, not that it mattered; she would have her cash.