They had always done things together.
Neither of them had ever gone off on their own. Whether it was an annual holiday or just shopping, they had always enjoyed one another’s company. Her next-door neighbour knew this, which is why she called in and had sat in her kitchen commiserating with her. It was only a month since the funeral. Her visitor was well aware of how she and her husband had saved up over a long period in order to take the trip of a lifetime. It would have been yet another time when they would have experienced the joy of travelling to somewhere new together. It was during this conversation that her neighbour suggested that she go ahead with the trip on her own, as this would be what he would have wanted.
Although she said this idea was unexpected, knowing her late husband, her neighbour was probably right. She would go for him; while at the same time get away and give herself time to get over her loss. As a result, she had gone ahead and made the arrangements and within a week or so she was on the plane, thinking back to a time before the funeral.
She was seated comfortably, sipping on her drink, seeing it all play out in her mind. She was remembering the morning she’d been doing the washing and found the receipt for a very expensive city restaurant in his trouser pocket. It itemised his favourite dish, along with items for a second meal. She remembered the ugly events of that night; the lies, the terrible fight, the tears, the truth coming out, and the begging for forgiveness.
She thought about the events on the following evening. Him, so willingly going out to his shed to fix the kitchen utensil that she’d broken. Him, receiving a fatal electrical shock when he touched his vice. Her, deliberately waiting long enough before checking on him. She recalled how she felt when she found him lying there dead.
She smiled to herself with satisfaction and ordered another drink. The airline had been very good about refunding his ticket.
She was going solo and the refund would provide her with lots of extra spending money.