The thing I remember most about him is his smell.

It was better than the scent which came out of the bottle. I know because I bought the same scent he wears. It must be something about the oil in his skin or the lotion he wears too because all of it together creates an elixer that was always intoxicating to me.

I used to put my nose right in the crook of his neck and inhale deeply and slowly. Smiling softly on the exhale as my body relaxed against his. He used to let me do this as often as I wanted to...and then...slowly...he became irritated by it and would snatch himself away snapping "Okay!" in that way he had when he was annoyed and I took it...because I never knew when he'd let me inhale and then exhale without him pushing me away...so I'd try as often as possible.

Then I noticed it in bed.

Before, he would cuddle with me, his body curled around mine like a lion. He'd kiss me on the neck and talk to me long after we'd turned off the lights.

It got to the point where he'd jump when I touched him. Like my touch was heat...the searing kind...not the smouldering kind. His back seemed to always be to me. In bed, walking to the car, walking in the mall...he seemed to always want to be one step ahead of me. Always just right out of my reach so that folks had to wonder if we were together.

So yes...I knew long before he told me that it was over. That he didn't love me anymore. It was in the way he flinched at the sound of my voice. It was in the way he made less of a big deal about my birthday. It was in the fact that the last gift he gave me was something that I bought myself and he gave me the money to reimburse me.

Yes. I knew. I'm not stupid.

I watched him fall out of love with me as Winter turned into Spring and I grew to hate the sounds of life re-awakening. When he moved me out of our house...I left quietly. I gave him my key. Took it off the keychain right there in front of him and placed it gently on the counter. I didn't need it anymore.

Because I'd made duplicates of all his keys three months prior including his car key and the key to his mother's house. I had the key to his office and the key to the house he still lived in with HER. I had the key to his brother's house and the key to his file cabinet in his office.

I've hurt enough...tomorrow...I'm getting fucking even. Revenge might not be best for most...but it's all I've dreamed of. Once he has paid...then I'll move on. But.Not.Before.

- See more at: http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/author_monica_mingo/page/2/#sthash.1NtxonDa.dpuf

T-Monnie...Not Your Mommy's Tee-Tee