She sat in her car in the driveway, fingers locked on the steering wheel, her whole body trembling. A slide show of how her marriage descended into hell, and she blinked back tears, feeling the storm in her chest, Memories weren't supposed to duplicate physical sensations, yet she could feel the pain.

Angry now, she climbed out of the car and breathed in the evening air, gathering herself. Damn you, Charlie The key was fumbled into the lock and once inside, she locked the door again, leaning hard against it, heart thumping.

She focussed on the mail on the floor in front of her, and gladly sorted through it in spite of the fact it was mostly bills. Anything to get her mind off Charlie. In the kitchen her wine glass was quickly filled more than usual, and she leaned on the counter, swallowing a large mouthful. Then the show began again. Her legs almost buckled at the visual memories of their heated arguments and his careless lies.

She shouted out at him, but it was only the room that heard, and it offered nothing in return. A lump formed in her throat and tears bled from her eyes. "I loved you, dammit! I loved you . . ." She slowly slid down the cupboard door to the floor, the wine crept away in a crimson puddle from the tipped glass.

Shaking fingers covered her eyes as she listened to his voice telling her how great they would be together. How he had surprised her on the yacht with his proposal – then as time passed, the fighting and arguing when he dragged in late, smelling of perfume and liquor.

"Oooh, Charlie . . ." her hand dropped away and she just sat sobbing.

***

"Back for more aspirin?" Rose dropped the menu in front of him.

"Nope. Here to apologize for my comment last time."

"Charlie, wasn't it?"

He nodded.

"So, Charlie, what, did you have an epiphany?"

"In a way. I saw- well, let's just say, I learned a little about myself. That's one reason I'm here. I am sorry, Rose, about my comments."

"Me too, Charlie. I called you a jerk after you left." They both shone silly grins, and the moment passed.

"Rye toast and coffee?"

"Please, and an ear if you can spare time."

Surprisingly, Charlie bared his soul. All the warts trotted out and admitted to. Rose gave him her full attention, in spite of her co-worker having to do double time.

"I can't shake the images of a lot of that stuff. Ever since I spoke to her and listened, for the first time, it's like a cutting room movie streaming in my head."

"You really were something, weren't you? Some women I know would have got to you with a dull spoon." Her thumb pointed to her chest.

"I'm not proud, Rose. Actually I feel sick about the whole thing, but I don't know what to do. I can't go on with these visions haunting me daily."

"If you think I can help, better think again. Dollars to doughnuts she's goin' through the same thing."

"I know she is, that's a big part of my own trouble. What can I do?"

"Well, if you'll take some of my daddy's philosophy without the wisecracks—"

"I promise. I do." He leaned forward expectantly.

"You can't have a truce if you keep diggin' up the dead." She paused, ready for a comment. When it didn't come, she continued. "A clean slate is the only solution I can see, Charlie. If you are really sincere, then bury those pasts together, hard as it might be."

He sat back and sighed, his eyes smiling as he reflected on her words. "Rose, your daddy must have been quite a guy."

"He was." Her eyes glistened.

"Well, I don't quite know how, but I'm going to try and take that advice this time." He dropped some money on the table. "No change, please. Your time was worth so much more" He stood and held out a hand. "If it works out, Rose, you'll be the first to know."