Julia returned to the kitchen and carefully placed the plastic bags on the kitchen counter.

‘Darling, you did lots of shopping today: vegetables, fruits, canned food, bread and even tomato sauce.’ She counted the items excitedly.

She reached into one of the grey plastic bags and removed a red delicious Apple, bit it without washing and closed her eyes to enjoy the crispy, delicious juice bursting from the crushed succulent fruit into her taste buds, as her teeth ground the fruit flesh with lust.

‘You are just the bomb! You make the best choices when it comes to fruits selection.’ She shouted over a mouth full.

When James didn’t say a word, Julia picked another plastic bag containing Tins of canned food and dragged it to the pantry.  She placed the items separately on the pantry shelves, still eating the apple.

After the pantry, Julia went to empty out another plastic  bag  containing fruits, into the fruit basket lying on top of the kitchen counter.

‘I know. Just make sure you don’t mix em up.’ James finally spoke unconcerned and continued to put the items he had on his hands into the fridge.

Luke, James’s young brother was seated on a stool behind the kitchen counter, leisurely, sipping an afternoon cup of coffee.

‘Your arrangement skills are disgusting.’ James shouted.

Startled, Julia turned to see James pick up a can of Heinz Beans from the lower shelf of the pantry, among the dog food and place it up in the second shelf.

‘I knew you never listen. You only know how to eat them.’ James said with a snarl.

‘Heish!’ Kate, Julia’s 16 year old daughter hissed.

Seated on a couch, in the open living room, playing with her iPhone, the girl lifted her head to look at her step Father in disgust.

Luke gave out a hearty laugh, spitting out bits of coffee he had galloped.

‘I am sorry, didn’t mean to. Only that, I wasn’t keen to…to… look.’ Julia stammered trembling, almost choking on the apple pieces she was chewing.

‘Next time, read labels before placing items together’ James snarled, looking straight into the eyes of the frightened woman.

Humiliated, Julia ran into the bedroom to hide her disgrace. She fell on the spring bed sobbing, her body jerking in rapids.

Luke placed his coffee mug on the kitchen counter and wiped off  bits of coffee that had stained his yellow flowered shirt, then looked at his brother.

‘What was that for? Wasn’t there a better way you could have told her off?’

‘What do you mean?’ James asked.

‘Am talking about the way you shouted at your wife. It wasn’t right.
‘That was so rude of you, James. The woman was so excited to help you out, and now…, now look at what you have done to her?’

He pulled out a cigarette from the pocket of his shirt, picked up his mug and walked out of the house for a smoke.
When Julia found herself again, she put pen into paper and wrote some lines to her husband.

Dear James,
At first I thought it was so perfect thing for you and me to be together but it is so ironical that, what I had pictured of you and me wasn’t true. This perfect romance that I had created in my mind has come to nothing but, an elusive shadow in my life. Yes, we can find ourselves in a less than perfect circumstance but, humiliating me in front of my child and your family is no mistake. It seems like we were never meant to be.

I try each and every day to please and love you, but you keep on pushing me away. If I knew my life could amount to this, I couldn’t have made the mistake of flying the blue skies, crossing numerous seas to be with you. I wouldn’t have abandoned the people who truly loved and appreciated me, to follow you to this deepest part of life.

I barely know you but this much you have shown me, is enough to throw the baby called our love with the bath water. Tomorrow when you snap, I don’t want to face it all over again.

Today, I will pick up my passport and return to my village.
I never want to see you again.

Julie.
Her fingers refusing to sign as-  your wife, Julie

Half an hour later, James regretted his sentiments and went to say sorry to his wife. But, he was greeted by an empty room, Julia had long gone, vanished into the approaching darkness.

                                                                                    Appreciating Google for the great photo.