He’s still in bed. She’s up and dressed and has been working on her hair and makeup for the last twenty minutes.
He’s trying not to be annoyed by the hour, the disturbed sleep and the noise of the hairdryer but he’s failing. Despite himself, he whines:
“So why do you have to go in so early today?” And then as if to justify: “There’s no reason for it.”
She takes her time replying. She’s measured, in control:
“You know why I have to go? It’s the job. You know the job. These things don’t sleep, Dom”
Beth shakes her head minutely. Gentle but instantly frustrated. Both of them are.
“You know, sometimes it’s like you’re not aware of what a commitment it is to write a piece of software? To have your name against it?”
Dominic colours a little against the white sheets. He feels outed and foolish: “Well you know that’s not true.”
His face collapses a little. She stops and looks at him. He continues:
“You know what.. I just don’t want you going the same way I did.”
She walks over and sits on the bed and places her hand on his.
“I know love. I know. I’m sorry.”
She checks her phone. “Listen, I’ve got to go. We’ll talk later right?”
They both close their eyes and he feels tears behind his eyelids on this early morning in the springtime. This early dark morning in the springtime before the rain.