[ WP ] A couple come to the end of their relationship and one of them decides they should break up . There 's no arguments , only an 'OK ' .

The smoke rose slowly from the glowing end of the cigarette, blue smoke rising in a straight line, undisturbed by any moving air. 
 
 I sat staring at my screen, the same words had been staring back at me for almost two weeks now and next weeks rent would see the last of the grant money. 
 
 `` Aspiring writer''. That's how I would describe myself. `` I write books'' would be the reply to the never ending question of `` What do you do?''. Yet here I was, six months down the line, seventeen chapters written and nowhere further to go. The inspiration had stopped a while ago now. Calling yourself a writer comes with advantages. It means brains, it means confidence, it means interest; with those things comes women. Women who want to tell their friends that their boyfriend is a writer, who want to be some sensitive soul's muse. To be the inspiration for some beautiful piece of work. A penniless romantic, what could be better than that? 
 
 I have a way with words, always have. Any argument or dispute in a relationship could be dealt with. she'd tried to leave me six times now. I talked her out of it every time. It only took five minutes- it was why she fell for me in the first place. She knew she could come to me with any issue and I could make her feel better about it in five minutes. It was a critical way of living, but it worked. The women do n't leave because I convince them that it just does n't make sense. Every discussion would carry a different theme. Guilt, perhaps. That was always an easy one, especially when it was constructed to lead themselves to that conclusion- when the only response is `` I'm being selfish.'' They never leave- Not when I've written myself as the perfect partner. 
 
 I suppose that's where the inspiration goes. I stop writing when I'm too busy writing myself. It's a lot of effort to hide everything, to make sure you cover every plot hole, to set up placements for later developments. The discussion is written before she even comes into the room, I know how she'll react because by this stage, I've practically written her too. 
 
 She'll walk in after work today- she'll tell me she's having doubts again. `` Not spending enough time with me'' is what she'll say. But I've already worked it out. 
 
 `` I understand that. I know it's hard. I hate it as well, but I'm still struggling with the writing. I've written quite a lot this week, you've really helped me through it all. I need you to understand that I do appreciate everything we have and whilst I know its not been that fair on you, I'm doing it for both of us. Once this gets published I'll have so much more time for us. You said you wanted to go to Rome again, we can do that as soon as the first check comes in. I love you babe, you know I do. I'm not choosing to spend time away from you, that's the last thing I want- but I have to do this right now. Soon that will be over and we can just go back to how it was. We'll be back to watching DVDs at night, I promise. Just a couple of more weeks. I love you.'' 
 
 Always end with I love you. They have to say it back, especially after that. It's my sacrifice, its my hardship, and she's just a passenger. I do n't say it, but that's how it will make her feel. Hell, it will probably lead to guilt sex. 
 
 Still, that being said, the grant money does run out next week... 
 
 She walks into the room and looks at the half burned out cigarette on the desk. As I type furiously on the keyboard she walks up behind me. 
 
 `` Babe, I really feel like we are n't spending enough time with one another.'' 
 
 `` OK'' 
 
 For five minutes she stands there. Not saying anything. She's waiting for me to stop typing, to turn around and smile and start my speech. 
 
 I stop typing and press enter; new chapter. As I start to type, the door slams behind me. 
 
 

