The Very End

I first spotted him during uni orientation week, and fell instantly
in lust. He was a fantastic package.

We were eventually thrown together during happy hour at a bar on campus
towards the end of first semester, and I initiated a conversation with
some inane opener. Just as I felt the twelfth alcoholic beverage about
to make an unscheduled reappearance, Richard asked me out. At least, I
think that's what he said. I ran to the ladies', returning to become
his disciple.

Richard graduated, taking a position as a financial adviser with a
large, prestigious firm. Two years later, I graduated and went into
book publishing. We found a great little flat close to the city,
eventually signing our names in blood on the mortgage papers.

Eight years later, it dawned on me that I had become so engrossed in
Richard's career that I forgot to be young. I wanted us to take off,
working and travelling our way around the world, then return home to
have a baby. However, I would have been more than content with a stint
as an ex-patriot.

Richard tried to placate me with the promise of a week's holiday in
Indonesia, which included a four day meeting in Jakarta. I booked my
ticket to Europe. I declared I was leaving, and if Richard wasn't
prepared to compromise within three months, I would not return to
him.

Europe was all I'd imagined, but I was lonely. As I prepared to return
to the reality of my love life I received a kick in the head in the
form of an email from Richard. He had attached himself to a secretary
in his office who I shall from this point refer to as the cow.
Oh, he would also need to sell the flat.
With no need to rush home, I picked up a contract position in London,
and eventually moved on to the delights of exotic South America and the
adventures of Africa. Having a wild time, I embarked on a series of not
so serious relationships.

It took two years to find the desire to return. I quickly landed what I
considered to be a pretty good job and began the process of catch up.
People couldn't wait to tell me what was going on in Richard's life.
The news of Richard's unhappiness was like a lullaby to my scorned
ears. I felt no pity, only elation. After all, he'd probably been
bonking the cow before I'd even left the country!

My joy attracted Dan, the new man who had wandered into my life. Dan is
a definite candidate for the role of partner and father to my
children.

Back to yesterday. Was it only yesterday?
Richard landed on my doorstep. Even with my bottom jaw on the welcoming
mat I registered the toll early success had taken. I stared for what
seemed like an eternity.

Richard broke the deafening silence. He said I'd never looked better. I
believe this actually surprised him. It would be an understatement to
say that this annoyed me.

To cut an awfully long story short, Richard had been duped! The cow had
pretended to be a good listener in the lounge room and a prostitute in
the bedroom. To add to the humiliation, she refused to leave the
virtual mansion in a great location.

He was more than reasonable. If I hadn't been so demanding and
irresponsible, none of this would have happened. After all we'd shared,
he felt I couldn't possibly imagine a future without him.

A knock at the door brought me back to the present. It is two
detectives asking can they come in? Like I have a choice.
Quickly, I ask if they'd had any news on who could possibly have
committed this murder. They have. The older detective's tone worries
me.

In the majority of this type of case the perpetrator is usually the
jealous woman in the victim's life. I feel ill.

The cow had confessed last night, cracking upon interrogation. She had
arrived home to find photos of the two of us on display in his study,
along with the details of my life Richard had gleaned from mutual
friends. She confronted Richard as he walked through the door. Richard
had told her I would be moving in with him. She lost control, grabbed a
lamp from the entrance table and struck him from behind. He'd died
almost instantly.

The police are very sorry I'd lost Richard just as we were about to
reunite. They leave, without even commenting on my lack of response to
their news, and promise not to interrupt my grieving.

I hadn't the heart to tell the police that I was going to attempt once
more to get through Richard's enormous ego that I no longer loved him.
I never thought that anything like this would ever occur.

Dan is due to arrive shortly. It was Dan who had first voiced both our
suspicions last night when he'd asked what information, if any, the
police had relayed about the reaction of Richard's wife to discovering
the body.