Tracks
The clamoring of the subway on its tracks was hardly audible over the vexatious silence and awkward tension radiating between Addy and the staring man seated diagonal from her. He coughed but refused to take his eyes off of Addy’s voluptuous red ringlets, piercing blue eyes, and soft pale skin. Addy switched the cross of her slender legs, carefully inspecting her newly refreshed manicure and the utterly empty seats consuming the subway. Another cough from the staring man. Finally, the elephant in the room was introduced.

“Addy….” He began.

“Alex- Don’t. Don’t Start. Can’t we just pretend for five more minutes that this isn’t happening?” Addy’s eyes were closed as she gritted her teeth and turned her knuckles white.

“Addy, I’m not going to pretend I don’t see you, I want to talk to you and catch up! Maybe we can…”

“Did you ever consider that maybe I don’t want to talk to you, Alex? Does it always have to be about what you want? Addy interrupted in a blaze.

“Oh, don’t even,” he countered. “I always let you get your way when we were together.”

“Well maybe you could remind me of those instances because I can only recall the egotistical, inconsiderate, and dangerously unsuccessful fourteen year old boy you still appear to be. You’re 27 years old Alex, grow the hell up already and stop trying to screw up the happiness I’ve found for myself over the last five months.”

“Addy, I’m sorry, I really never meant to hurt you, honest!” Alex sputtered. “I just wanted to have time for me again and I could never seem to find it. You rejected the pool table I wanted, the flat screen, that wicked trip I planned for us to take to Malibu, I mean, come on! I’ll admit the vacation was a little pricy but even you can’t argue that your apartment was a little on the mediocre and boring middle aged mom side.”

Addy’s eyes bulged. “Just because my home does not accommodate your frat party life style does not mean it is mediocre- at least I have a god damn place to call my own. You’re close to 30 years old and you live with your mother!”

“Oh yeah? And who is it exactly who’s been legal to drink for three years now and has been to as many parties as I can count on one hand? Who does laundry from 8-8:35 every Friday night and spends hours making posters for a classroom where no one can read yet? At least I can say I have a life…the money will come in time. I’m just saying that maybe if you weren’t such a micromanaging control freak this could have worked out between us,” Alex spat the end of his rant.
Addy took a long breath before responding, “I am sorry, I spent two years of my life with someone so unbelievably ignorant. I am sorry that I wasn’t the one to figure out that we were far from being compatible enough to share our futures. So I guess I should be thankful that you broke up this looming disaster before we did anything dangerously permanent. You are a despicable man Alex Conner, and I’m more than ecstatic to be able to literally walk away from you in this instant,” Addy finished.
The fuming passengers exited the subway, Addy clutching her Coach purse, Alex with his fingers stuffed in his jeans pocket; his lips were trembling as he appeared to be trying to form a sentence but his restricting anger forced his lips into a hard line as Addy continued.
“I hope you enjoy the 15 block walk to your mother’s home. I hear the rain isn’t going to let up soon,” She smiled an unbearably sweet smile and danced lightly across the damp street to her apartment building, leaving Alex at the station fumbling for coherency. As she reached her room Addy promptly locked the deadbolt on the front door and hummed to herself as she made a cup of tea.