Expiry Date

Written by Judith Meikle

I reach into the fridge and fish out some limp salad onions, throwing them into the bin. Next is a set of two chocolate puddings - the expensive kind. Remove outer sleeve and pierce film the instructions say. They have expired as well.

***

The week before, I had let myself into Dan’s flat - a surprise on the second anniversary of our first date, he was in the shower. His phone pinged and I glanced over at his bedside table. ‘Wifey’ flashed up and then disappeared behind the lock screen. I unlocked his phone and scanned through the texts until I heard the shower stop.

Steam billowed out from the ensuite as he opened the door, hair damp and towel around his waist; he reached for another to dry his hair and faltered when he saw me.

‘Surprise,’ I said, arms half rising and falling back to my sides. ‘Happy anniversary.’

‘I…Uh, happy anniversary to you too. Sorry. Wasn’t expecting you.’ He collected himself and planted a kiss on my cheek then reached behind me for his phone. He scrolled through his texts, smiling down at his phone. ‘It’s Mick,’ he said. ‘Keeps sending me these daft memes.’ Then he turned away from me, still scrolling, still smiling.

‘Did you book a table for dinner?’ I asked, amazed at how level my voice sounded.

He threw his phone on the bed and came towards me, encircling my waist with his arms and planting kisses on my neck.

‘I,’ he said, punctuating his words with kisses, ‘Called Hector at The Delaunay and he’s got us our favourite table, even managed to source that wine you loved that night we-’

‘Who’s “Wifey”?’ 

He paused, mid-kiss. ‘Sarah, honey-’

I pushed him away and shrugged my coat back on.

‘Don’t you dare call me honey now!’

‘Sarah, please. What are you doing?’

‘I’m not pretending anymore. I want my heart back. I’m not doing this again! You understand? I want myself back.’

***

I look at the chocolate puddings in my hand and read the instructions again. Remove outer sleeve and pierce heart.