Ben lay on the bed looking up at the ceiling, breathless. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, and then, feeling discomfort in the awkwardness of the silence, took another to think of what to say.

‘Jesus…’ was all he could eventually muster. He couldn’t quite look Cynthia in the eyes; when he tried to, she stared at him as though looking right through him. Although she had welcomed his visit, he knew she was in denial that she still loved him. He had to come over, but still, a twinge of guilt overcame him as he thought of his own partner at home, and of Cynthia’s new husband, who was away on business.

Ben knew he had acted irrationally, then again he never was rational when it came to Cynthia. That was not to say this was an impulsive decision; in fact, he had daydreamed about this moment for the past few years.

Regretfully, this would have to be the last time he saw her. Just this one night. ‘Why not at least savour this time with her?’ he thought. No thinking of tomorrow, just lie here and enjoy the now. That was all he wanted. To lie beside her and enjoy her company one last time. It felt so pure.

Ben looked around the room, taking in each minute detail, as if straining to ensure it would all become a particularly vivid memory. As he did so, a bright light washed across the wall. Almost certainly it was Cynthia’s husband pulling into the driveway. Ben looked at Cynthia with shock. He wasn’t supposed to return until tomorrow and now there was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.

It was just Ben’s luck. He himself had arrived only minutes ago. In fact, he had barely caught his breath after strangling Cynthia. Swallowing a pill much earlier than anticipated, Ben thought to himself ‘together again at last’.