Weeks had now passed and still no contact from Susan. Alex had practically given up any hope of seeing her or hearing from her ever again. Alex woke once again from an unsettled sleep and walked slowly into the cold bathroom through the darkness of his home. Usually the cold from the hard ceramic tiles on a bare foot would send shivers through his bones but not anymore as Alex felt nothing; he was practically dead and he knew it. Alex reached for the light cord and pulled it gently causing the light to flare to life. As he approached his shaving mirror above the sink, he noticed that he looked like shit due to his lack of shaving, the fact that he had shaved his head and his poor appetite. Alex turned the cold water tap and then cupped his hands together so that he could fill them with water and then splashed the cold liquid over his face and scalp. Alex turned off the water and then stood for a moment as he watched the last trickles of water running down the drain. Alex was beyond miserable and he couldn't drag himself out of his dark place no matter how hard he tried. Susan had left a massive void in his life and to Alex, there was nothing in this world that would fill it.
To say that he was lonely, would easily be an understatement. Alex remembered how his Grandfather Bert used to tell him that sometimes in life we can be surrounded by people every waking hour of the day but yet somehow we can feel totally alone in the world. It has taken a long time for Alex to come to terms with his Grandfather's words but in the end, he now understood in glorious fashion. Alex left the bathroom and walked back into the bedroom where his wife lay sleeping as it was 5.23am and half the world were still asleep. Alex stood for a moment and looked at her as she slept; she looked so peaceful while she was unconscious yet her conscious hours were anything but peaceful as he had for a long time been living in a virtual war zone. Alex knew that he felt nothing for her but contempt. He hated her foul mouth as she insulted, belittled and threatened him day after day for years and he felt so ashamed for being such a weak fool for putting up with it. Alex knew that he had to get away with or without Susan as he would never know happiness while he remained with his wife.
