Ariel turned off the television. She got up and joined her husband in the dark bedroom. She turned on the light. He sat slouched at the edge of the bed with his briefcase hanging below his feet.
"I know it." He murmured. "It's fine. I'll be ok."
She walked towards the bed and put her arms around him. He started to cry.
"I feel like I've lost something, Ariel."
"I know." She kissed the back of his neck.
"No, I mean...something inside myself. Something I had when I met you, and now can't find."
"That's how it goes." She sighed.
"It doesn't have to be. You still have it. I see it inside you. Every day, whether you show it to me or not." He pulled her long hair behind her shoulders and put his hand on her thigh. "I wouldn't be a good father."
She kissed him. "I love you."
"Me too. But it's not about that."
They sat there holding hands until it was dark out, and then Ariel began to pack a small bag.
"Don't." David said. "I'll go. There's so much of you here already."
"Ok." She replied. "Where will you go?"
"Does it matter?"
"I guess it doesn't."
He didn't bother to pack. He just collected his toothbrush and walked away. Ariel curled up on the bed with her wind-up doll. The room was dark again. It began to rain.
