…um, what?  Tell me how a man who showed affection only moments ago could be so blunt with me now.  Whether I want to admit it or not, he’s right.  In life people are dealt situations they don’t necessarily want or ask for.  But it happens.  Just like what happened to him.

***

Keys lay on the counter.  Heels slump by the front door. Purse hangs on the couch.  The sound of water. I sit thinking on the side of the bath tub.

I won’t say that I had my eye-opening, life-changing moment from some guy who told me to “suck it up, life happens,” but I will say this it was a small push in the right direction.  I didn’t sleep with him tonight, and surprisingly I’m okay with coming home alone.  I’m okay with the thought of coming home alone from here on out.

I let the rush of warm water wash the dirt off my feet.

Cleanse. Cleansing. Cleansed.

 

Katie Scarafiotti is a native of Colorado currently in her third year of studying Creative Writing, with an emphasis in Fiction, and English at the University of Arizona. She is also working on a collection of short stories and a novel. One of her short stories can be found in the University of Arizona’s 36th edition of the Student’s Guide to First Year Writing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and cuddling her two cats.