Do you want to be alone? he asked. By yourself for a while? she kept looking out the kitchen window. I can let you be. Leave you here, he tried to embrace her from the back; holding on around the waist. I’m going. You shouldn’t be driving in this condition, he let go.

She watched him climb into the Ford. Saw him back out of the driveway onto the two lane road. She looked down; looked again, and he was gone. Still, she stood there. Looked outside at the changing trees, birds flying, squirrels running around, cars going up and down Highway 10. In her mind, she counted the colors. One red car. Three black. One green. One real pretty Bronco that looks avocado. The young woman kept looking. She poured herself a cup of coffee and watched the world go by. Wondering where he’d taken off to.

Maybe he left town, she said out loud. Could’ve gone to the store. Probably went back to her, she cried. Probably went back to her.

They never stay, she whispered.  Always leave. Go back to their safe lives. Women they call dear. Children bounced on their laps. Mowing lawns on Saturday. Church on Sunday. It was fun while it lasted. 

She got dressed in her tightest jeans. Put on a white tee-shirt and a pair of cowboy boots. She was tired of waiting. It’s time to find the next one.