The sound of leftover rain was soothing to Annie. The holiday season had left her exhausted in every way. It didn't help that she felt so alone. She sat staring out the window that her desk sat in front of; wondering what next December would be like. Annie felt as though her soul was depressed. She was truly at the end of one journey and wondering what the next journey would be like.
It was Sunday and she had a mid-term to take--one of which she was terrified she'd fail. She was so close to a perfect score and wanted to keep it that way. Her online classes were the only things that kept her from not crashing into a complete depression. As she sat at her desk researching and writing the mid-term essay that was worth 40 points she glanced to her left. There he was. The man that was supposed to be her support, her partner, and her comfort. Instead, he was a stranger. Jake did not offer any encouraging words to her. In fact, the only conversation he offered, usually, was about the online game he played. From the time he woke up until nearly two the next morning Jake was on his game. He didn't pursue anything else in life, except winning the lottery that he never had the money to play.
Jake had admitted to many infidelities in the past and Annie was always worried that more would follow. After seeing evidence of Jake's mind and heart beginning to wander again she knew it was just a matter of time before he physically wandered. Annie knew when she went to work that he must feel free from the conformity of a relationship. She sort of laughed at that. What relationship? she thought. Sure, he does a few things that are helpful, but they are things that anyone can do. I can do my own laundry, get my own groceries, make the bed, and wash the dishes. Annie realized that the only two things that he did mostly was the laundry and get the majority of the groceries. Oh, yes, and empty the trash. Of course, she also admitted that he helped a great deal with the electronics in the house, but in all her years of being single and truly alone, Annie did not have a problem managing her own electronics. What Annie needed was a man who greeted her in the morning with a good morning; a man who showed her true affection. Annie needed a partner that helped with the financial future and someone who knew how to truly bond in a partnership. Annie had a glorified roommate who slept in the same bed.
Annie cried a lot these days and wondered how she was going to make her life happy again. She did the only thing she knew to do--and that was to reach out to her friends and family. It had been a while since she had done this. She had put everything that she was into her relationship with Jake. Annie couldn't believe what happened. There was an outpouring of love and encouragement along with a lot of advice from everyone. They loved her and missed her.
Alone in a home of two was not the life Annie wanted. If she wanted to come home to an empty home with no real conversation, she would be single again. People used to tell Annie how lucky she was; that she was better off to be single. Those were times that she was always looking for someone to have a relationship with. She realized that she was happier living alone. Annie had more conversations when she was single than she did now. How can that be? she thought. One way or another Annie was going to continue on with her life. She would pursue her degree and continue to look for a better paying job. Annie decided that the new year was a new beginning. Things were going to change. One day she would be happy in a home of one.
