When he picked up the scarf he realised

that she had left it behind deliberately. The

house keys were on the table, next to the scarf,

and the money that they’d argued about. She

had taken everything else, all her other

belongings, the clothes and shoes and jewellery

and music, the personal things, things

that he would not use himself. She had taken

her perfume, too, though the scent of her

lingered, on the scarf,

which she had left

deliberately.

The only other thing that she

had left behind

was him.