31st December
All day, Id been busy getting ready for New Years Evedusting, cooking, setting the table. This would be my first New Year not spent with Mum and Dad, but instead with the man I loved.
Id been living with Tom for three months now, in his flat. Hes olderfifteen years my senior, divorced, pays child support, and likes a good drink now and then… but when youre in love, none of that seems to matter. People never really understood what I saw in himhes not exactly attractive, in fact, he could probably be called quite plain, with a temper to match, incredibly tight with money, and he never had any spare cash. Well, unless it was for something he wanted. And yet somehow, Id fallen for this Tom of mine.
For months, Id quietly hoped Tom would see what a patient and capable woman I was. I wanted him to realise Id make a lovely wife. He always said: Lets see how you get on living together first, and if youre anything like my ex. I never got much out of him about his ex-wife; it was all a bit of a mystery. So, I tried my bestnever complained when he rolled in pissed, cooked, cleaned, did his washing, even bought all the food with my own money (wouldnt want Tom thinking I was only after his wallet). Even tonight, I laid out the New Years spread with my savings. Id even wrapped up a new phone for him.
While I prepped for the evening, my charming Tom was also getting ready in his own wayout on the town with his mates. He came home already tipsy and announced that wed be having companyhis friends, all strangers to me, were coming over for the countdown. The table was ready, just an hour left until midnight, but my spirits were crushed. Still, I bit my tongue and kept it all inI was determined not to be like his ex.
Half an hour before midnight, they all tumbled ina drunken rabble of men and women. Tom perked up, plonked everyone around the table, and the drinking carried on. He didnt even introduce me, and no one seemed to notice me at allthey just drank, laughed, and carried on their private jokes. When I quietly mentioned the New Year approaching and suggested pouring some bubbly, one girl gave me a look as if I was an unwelcome guest.
Whos that then? she slurred, eying me up and down.
Just my bedfellow, Tom chuckled, and everyone burst into laughter at my expense.
They devoured all the food Id cooked and mocked me while doing it. As Big Ben chimed midnight, they made jokes about my naivety and praised Tom for his smart move in finding himself a free cook and housekeeper. Tom said nothing in my defence, just sat there, stuffing his face with my food and laughing along, as if I was invisible.
I slipped quietly away, packed my things, and took a taxi to Mum and Dads. Id never had a New Year so dreadful. Mum just said what shed always said: Told you so. Dad gave a sigh of relief. I cried my eyes out and, when it was all spent, the rose-tinted glasses finally slipped from my eyes.
A week later, once Tom ran out of money, he showed up at my mums door, acting as though nothing happened.
So, whyd you leave then? Got your knickers in a twist? Spotting I had no intention of smoothing things over, he tried another tack: Well, isnt this just great? Youre lazing about at your parents place and Ive got nothing in the fridgenot even a crumb! Youre acting just like my ex now!
I was so shocked at his nerve, I couldnt even speak. Id gone over in my head a hundred times how Id tell him everything I thought, but now I just stood there, lost for words. In the end, the only thing I managed was to tell him to get lostand slammed the door in his face.
And just like that, with the start of the New Year, I found myself at the beginning of a brand new life.
