September 2012
Beth sat on the bed a looked around the room. For three years this had been her sanctuary. Her artist easel stood in the corner, her sewing machine on the small table and her computer and printer on the desk. My whole life is in this room she thought, yet three years ago it belonged to Ben; he'd decorated it with lurid posters and weird drawings. Scattered around the room were various football boots, rugby shirts, photos, and a crazy collection of useless stuff. When he left he'd piled all the things he wanted to keep but not take with him into boxes and they were assigned to the loft.
The rest went with him to Uni. Beth had thought her life would end when he went. She drove him to York where he was to start his new life, dropped him off at his digs and drove home, crying all the way.
The tears flowed all night, and most of the weekend. How could he dare to leave home!
She couldn't bring herself to go into the bare unfriendly room. He promised he would be back for weekends, or between terms. But his first break was weeks away, and then he didn't come home. He'd got himself a job and he was afraid he'd lose it if he took time off. He'll be back for Christmas he said, but when Christmas came he had been invited to France with a friend whose Parents had a chateau, not an opportunity to be missed.
Beth joined an art class, and surprised herself by being rather good at painting; encouraged by the teacher she bought an easel and set it up in Ben's room. First she took down the posters and painted the walls white, bought new curtains and lamps, and made it her own. Her pictures were beginning to sell; she printed cards and calendars on her newly acquired laptop and printer and set up a little business. She was really enjoying life when the bubble burst. An e-mail from Ben arrived telling her he was coming home; his girlfriend was pregnant and they planned to return home, and live in his old room until they could find a flat.
Beth burst into tears, cried all night and most of the weekend, How could he dare to come back home!