The Reef by Mark Charan Newton Page B

then walked out of the room, leaving the door open. She slipped into a night gown, walked behind Manolin, who buttoned up his bag, sealed it tight.
    She said, ‘Manolin, please, it wasn’t what it looks like.’ Her hand on his shoulder. ‘I’d been drinking -’
    ‘Fuck off. Spare me any of this shit,’ He shrugged off her hand. ‘You accuse me of cheating all this time. It’s you who’s the jealous one. I guess you were judging me by your own standards then?’
    ‘No. You didn’t come home. I thought you were with her. You know, Becq DeBrelt, and I knew that you and her must be together.’
    ‘Maybe I did,’ he said. Then, ‘Well I didn’t. Never have, never will. Remember those vows? Wasn’t that long ago. But you thought you’d get one in before you thought I’d have the chance anyway? Typical, the only way for you to feel accepted is to open your I-’
    She slapped him hard across the face. It surprised and hurt him. They looked at one another in despair. Manolin could hear the clock chiming in the next room.
    ‘It wasn’t like that,’ she said. She said, ‘You’re never here for me, you’re always out working, ignoring how I feel and ignoring my needs.’ ‘And that’s where I’m going again, to work,’ Manolin said. ‘I’m going away and this time I don’t want you here when I get back. Most of what’s in the home is mine. All of this.’ He indicated all four walls. ‘I’m sure you can spread your legs to find other accommodation.’ Inwardly, he cursed. He shouldn’t have said that. It showed too much anger.
    Her mouth fell open, obviously didn’t believe him capable of saying such direct thing. ‘Manolin, please, Manny. You can’t do this to me.’ She sat on the bed. Her eyes became filled with tears. He could hear her breathing become quick and heard the desperation in her voice. It was so frail that it made him want to stop, there and then. Hold her. Maybe forget it had happened.
    Whatever he did would probably be wrong.
    ‘Yes, I can. I’m leaving in a couple of days, but I’m not staying here any longer. I’ll sell this place and have the money waiting for me when I return. I’ll see an agent first thing. You, on the other hand, you’ll have nothing.’
    She looked at him through eyes that were full of tear. There was nothing she could say. She sat with her head in her hands, pushing her fingers through her hair.
    ‘Where’re you going? Please don’t go. When will you return? Please, let me try again.’ She looked up, her eyes red with sadness.
    ‘You never even tried in the first place. I don’t know when I’ll be back.’ He looked at her one last time and saw simply a woman that he had once loved and thought he had satisfied. He walked to the door, walked through, closed it behind. He waited to hear it click.
    He could hear her crying from the other side, but it was no use because the door had been closed. No longer able to see her, he did not know if she was looking at the back of the door. Maybe she felt too much pride to plea now, but wanted him so much to come back. He fell to his knees and his chest felt tight.
    Still, she did not open the door.
    He lowered his head into his hands, he wept so hard, bearing his teeth and he found he was shaking. It was a minute before he could stand up again. His legs felt weak and he stumbled to the bathroom to retrieve a few final possessions before dragging his body outside. He walked down the steps carrying his large, canvas travel case. He set it down, breathed in the cool dawn air. Far off he could hear the sound of motors pulling large vessels out to sea. Gulls cried from a sky that was changing from black to purple. A rumel was brushing at the puddles of water that had accumulated from the previous day’s rain, pushing the brackish pools over the side of the docks. Ahead, a small steamer was being loaded with barrels. Through the buoys and warning lanterns, which wobbled in the tide, there were two people on the