"Elizabeth, can I at least come by to spend some time with Anabel? I know that she must miss her Daddy..."
"No Jack, its not your turn...besides it will spoil her routine. Remember the agreement."
"Why are you still trying to hurt me? You've said quite clearly that you don't love me, you take my Anabel away, you take all of the things I bought over the years and call it yours - and leave me with nothing."
"Jack, it's called a separation for a reason" she sighed. "When will you understand that things aren't as they were and will never be again? It's over Jack. Wake up."
"That's a cold statement for someone who is meant to be quite an emotional person."
"Well, I've decided to be rational to decide what is best for me and my daughter."
"Rational?" Jack was about to say more but he bit his tongue before he began a tirade against Elizabeth and her 'Logic'.
"Yes, 'rational'...isn't that what you always said? That I needed to be more 'rational'? That I lacked 'Logic'?" she said with a smug sense of self satsfaction.
"I just want to see my Anabel. I don't see why that should be denied to me because of the anger you feel towards me" Jack said simply.
"I don't hate you Jack, in fact, I want us to be friends". Upon hearing those words Jack shuddered. "What is the matter Jack? Don't you want to be friends?".
Indeed, it was a stupid question. The woman had destroyed his life and taken his daughter away. Now she was asking for friendship in return.
"Of course I want to remain friends" he lied. "Your friendship would mean the world to me" he said lying again.
"I'm so glad to hear you say that Jack..." Elizabeth sounded overjoyed at the news. It was as if she had been afraid that their separation would irreparably wreck Jack's view of her. Her reputation and image, held above all else. It was then that Jack realised the true nature of the person behind the straw mask he had called Elizabeth all these years. Her external locus of identity was self-evident now. He felt a complete fool for not having seen it before.
"Look Elizabeth, I'm sorry but I have to go now. Send my love to Anabel". Jack didn't wait for a reply. He just hung up the phone. He thought it better to hang up rather than say something stupid out of the emotional turmoil he was feeling at that moment.
Returning the telephone to its receiver he found himself once again trapped in the silence of his empty apartment. He realised at that moment how much he missed Anabel. His life was truly empty without her mirth and joie de vivre in it. He walked towards the fridge with his empty glass and poured himself more whiskey in the glass.
"Here's to a peaceful night's sleep" he mumbled to himself and took a sip.
Jack strode back to the lounge and collapsed on his sofa. Ready with the blanket and pillow of a makeshift bed. Closing his eyes anddrifting into a drunken stupor, he was suddenly awoken by the sound of his door bell.
"Jack...Jack..." cried a female voice from the other side of the door. "Let me in!"
"It was Jessica," Jack thought. "Checking up on me because I hadn't shown up for work in a few days..."
"Jack let me in! Is everything alright?"
Jack stood up slowly and walked towards his front door. He grabbed a set of keys that were on a hook next to the front door and opened the door. As soon as the door was open and Jessica saw the state that Jack was in, she rushed to embrace him.
"Oh Jack, I heard the news at the office, you must feel terrible".
© 2012 H Williams. All rights reserved