"Saying Goodbye"

After a restless night sleep, Colin finally climbed out of bed and headed downstairs and opened the front door. Kate’s suitcases where still there where he had left them the night before, when she’d left with Sid. Shit. She hadn’t come home.

He let out a heavy sigh and shut the door. Leaning his back against it, he closed his eyes – trying to block out the images that were filling his mind. Sid and Kate...together...in Sid’s bed. It was more than he could bear. Opening his eyes, Colin took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and pulled out his cell phone. He paused, trying to find the words he’d say, then dialed Kate’s number.

The phone rang several times before her voice came on the line. "Hello?" she said, softly.

"Kate...," he sighed into the phone. He paused, took a deep breath again, let it out. This was harder than he thought it would be. She was there...in that bastard’s weird little house – maybe still in his bed. Colin pictured Sid’s face, that confident smile plastered on it, taunting him and he clenched his fists.

"Colin...I’m so, so sorry...," she began.

"Don’t. Kate, don’t," Colin interrupted, angrily. "I just called to tell you your bags are sitting on the porch and to say goodbye."

"Colin, wait..." Kate tried to protest, but he cut her off again.

"No, Kate, just...don’t."

He closed his eyes tightly. In the background, he could hear Sid’s muffled voice saying something to her. His heart pounded as the hurt and anger built inside of him. "Stay strong, Mate," he thought to himself, then opening his eyes again, he said, "Goodbye, Kate," and hung up the phone.

Clutching the phone in his hand, Colin closed his eyes tightly once more – fighting back the tears that were starting to well up in the corners, and said out loud to himself, "Goodbye, Kate."