Ebb TIDE

With just a few words, Karen's partner left her stunned

- 

Behind Karen, the heavy pub door swung closed, shutting off the boozy chatter and the whoops of laughter. She paced slowly along the quay in the cold, clammy sea mist and wrapped her arms tighter about her. A solitary cat slipped past, silent and intent in the night. Little waves slapped on the nearby hulls as the boats jostled on the turn of the tide.

What did it matter that she was alone in the freezing night? She raised her chin in defiance. The chill air was nothing compared to the gaping ache in her heart.

But her ears were straining to hear that pub door opening again, to catch David's running footsteps. David - come to apologise and draw her back into the warm.

She spun round - footsteps were coming, but the clip of high heels told her that it must be her friend Alison.

'There you are! You didn't even take your coat!'

Karen shrugged when she noticed the droplets of water shimmering on her sweater as Alison fussed about with an umbrella.

The evening, which had started so magically among their friends in the pub, had ended abruptly when Karen's partner had announced his news. Now Karen's eyes blazed and her cheeks burned.