He used to watch her dress in the morning and undress at night. Years ago. She wore a black nightgown and wiped the makeup from her face. He hid his fat body under covers. Laid his head on a pillow and waited for her to turn off the light. How he wished she’d kept it on.

Goodnight dear, he said each night. She said goodnight as well and rolled over with her face turned away.

At first, they’d make love before falling asleep. On down the road, they simply said, goodnight. Eventually, they would say nothing at all.

He suddenly stopped watching her dress and undress. She quit talking all together. She expressed her thoughts with notes around the house. Gone to the store, it read. Or, don’t forget your lunch. Just words with no drawings of hearts or cupids. It was as if she was writing for a complete stranger.

One day, she did speak. The wife said she was no longer in love with him. Said she met a new man. Some guy from church. And they were going to run away together.

The husband did not say a word. He watched as she packed her car and took off down the road.

He wondered when her new lovers’ time would come. His time when she would leave him for another man. When she would walk out on him. Jealousy makes a man crazy.

So, he began to drink heavily. A bottle of scotch each day. The cheap stuff. He stopped going to work. Stayed at home mostly.

He kept the front door unlocked, so if she did come back, it would be open for her.