But then the fights:
the sharp words splintering the night

The End of Forever:

 He bent his head over the glass of brandy in front of him and sighed. He’s not really a drinker; he’s just hoping people would take it that the his bloodshot bleary eyes is just from the brandy. But, he bemusedly thought, the taste is so apt - bitter and the promise of a headache later.

The End of Forever:

She was waiting for her best friend to come to this bar far from town; she was silently grateful for the isolation offered by the bar’s dark corner booth where she stayed. At least it would take a lot of effort to see and ask about her swollen eyes.

One thing he realized, he mused while sipping his third snifter, is that she really is an inconsiderate bitch. Newly laid off from his job, ergo no money, ergo no means to see her. They practically lived on different time zones because of her work. She refused to move her shift even if there was no monetary benefits from working that shift. She said that she just liked the people there and that she’d lose friends if she changed shifts; after that the arguement is over for her. Hmph, he snorted. For all I know she’s eyeing a hot guy there.  So much for staying up late to wrap up tomorrow’s tasks so that he can spend the next day with her. So much for biting down pride and borrowing money so he can get her something nice. So much for all those years of so-called unending love. Down goes the contents of the snifter.

Bah. No use moping here; honestly when did drinking solve anything? He wondered how or if he’ll be able to talk to her tomorrow. Ah whatever. He stood up and turned towards the back exit. His eyes grew wide. His heart sank. Color left his face and a dull chill radiated from the space formerly occupied by his heart.

She has needs, that much she knew. And she knew he wasn’t able to give those needs. It was always work work work, no more time for poor little ol’ me. And then he lost his job. because of this stupid recession. HA. HA. Now that’s karma for you. I mean, honestly, how hard is it to travel what, twenty kilometers to her place during weekends? He says he has chores. Bah. He’s just sleeping in. She decided to order another bottle of sub-zero beer while waiting. He hated it when she drinks to drunken happiness with her new officemates. Doesn’t he know that the weekly booze session is the only happiness she has nowadays? Yes, she’s no longer happy during the rare times he manages to drag his ass and take her out. Well, so much for that, she thought as numbingly cold beer trickled down her throat.

Her friend arrived after four bottles. By then, she was half in the bag. She unsteadily stood up, gathered her things and gave her friend a long hug. And then, suddenly, a kiss. That felt oddly right even as a slight twinge of guilt pierced her heart. She turned towards the entrance and saw a pale ghost of a man.

“No.” A storm of emotions, realizations and worst of all, resignation ran through him.

How I couldn’t be what you’d need…

“No.”  His voiced cracked as a familiar scent went past him for the last time. Later on, a detached part of his brain would quip that it was possible to go through the Stages of Grief  at least twice in less than ten seconds.

She heard him utter a heartwretching sound that sounded like a word. Suddenly all the anger, the hurt, the disappointment she was bottling inside got loose. She took her friend’s hand and exited the bar with him in tow. She felt something break inside her but she shut that out of her mind as the door closed.

…but oh how I could make you bleed–