Coffee stains on the table reminded her of him. His annoying habit of keeping a mug without a coaster. Sometimes there’s be cigarette stubs too. The irritation would increase.

An inverted book on the bookshelf always upset her. Every time during her weekly dusting routine she would find at least a couple of books shoved upside down. Usually they’d be a Kerouac or Ted Hughes. Other times they would be on the drawer or dining table. She would curse under her breath each time she put them back in their place. She loved things in order.

The record player would never be switched off. Often she found the vinyl scratching and hissing as it reached its end and he had forgotten to turn it off. Usually she’d nudge him hard to wake him from his slumber on the settee.

She looked around the empty house and it seemed so much in order. The table was neat and clean, the jars and dishes placed properly in perfect sync. The room looked spic and span. Not a thing out of place.

But she missed his presence.

She realised she’d have all the mess and untidiness if she could only have him by his side. She sighed to herself, her thoughts lost.

Hey honey I’m home, his ever cheerful voice woke her up. She had dozed off for a while lost in her thoughts. God this place is a mess. I can never do even half the job you can do, he said as he picked up a couple of magazines and put them back in the rack.

She looked at him moving around busily doing bits here and there. Her eyes filled up as she lay on her bed unable to move. The accident had taken a permanent toll on that.

I’ve got a surprise supper fixed for you love, he said with a huge grin on his face. She felt her world light up each time she saw him smile that way. He was moving towards her bed with a tray of food and a small foldable table. She smiled back at him as a couple of droplets escaped from the corner of her eyes.

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