I heard you slippin' down the hall
Tell me, did your shadow trip an' fall
Over you, babe, movin' that slowly?

Her sapphire eyes opened as she raised her head. A shadow fell across the wall as a floorboard down the hall creaked slowly. A silent sigh brushed past her lips as she laid her head back down upon the tear-soaked pillow. Another night he came home much later than he used to. Saddened eyes closed once more as the bedroom door creaked all the way open. She could feel his eyes glancing over her form, as if assuring himself that she was indeed asleep, oblivious to his entrance. And she played the role perfectly. As he undressed and slid into bed beside her, she rolled over, her back to him, keeping one eye open while the other stayed close to keep the ruse in play. He never realized a single thing as he smugly fell asleep, assuming everything was just fine....

Did you think you could waste my time
Come a-messin' 'round with my mind?
Did you think you could? You don't know me....

His breathing regulated, deepened as his body slumbered peacefully, so very sure that he'd gotten away with it yet again. Slowly her satin clad body slipped out from between the sheets, bare feet landing upon the hardwood floor with hardly a sound. Slender yet shaking hands held the edge of the bed as she gathered herself with a deep breath, then looked over her shoulder. His back was to her, not a surprise, he hardly ever held her at night anymore. Resolve flooded through her as she stood up, grabbing her robe from the floor and wrapping it around herself. This would be the last time. Her heart longed to ask him so many things, but the questions remained unasked...

Where'd you get that alibi?
Did it fall out of the midnight sky
Or did you find it on the side of the road?

The bathroom remained darkened, the light never turned on. The dim nightlight from the hall was the only thing that allowed her to see what she'd become. Dark circles underneath her eyes, her eyes were constantly red from crying and worrying. She'd lost too much weight from hoping and praying she was wrong. Now, dangerously thin and distraught, alone and heartbroken, she stood infront of herself, trying to decide what to do next. She was shocked, even now, to see what she'd become. It was as if she was looking at someone else, and not herself. Surely this couldn't be what he'd let her become. This all had to be a bad dream, all she needed to do was wake up. Yet the relief never came.

Tell me: Did you have to make a deal
Or wrestle for control of the wheel, from your conscience?
I'd like to know. Where do you go, on your way home...

Her fist banged the counter, the pain shooting up her arm was proof enough that she was not dreaming. But how could she have let this go on this long? Why hadn't she confronted him about it yet? She hung her head, she knew the answer. She was afraid to, afraid her whole world would change in the blink of an eye if she did. So she continued to live the lie, pretending like everything was fine, only to keep hurting herself more. Always hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'd realize what he was doing was wrong, and come back to her and everything would be as it was. It just wouldn't happen though, she knew that now. Glancing over her shoulder, seeing the door to the room they once shared so peacefully, more questions arose in her mind, ones she just for once wished she could bring herself to ask. But it just wouldn't happen. She wanted to know the truth, but knew she wouldn't be able to handle it, if it came from him.

You know, someday, I'd like to fly
Like a bat outta Nashville. Why don't you help me?
An' tell me the truth...

Oh how she wished she could get her act together. Just confront him and get it overwith. Leaning over the sink, her fingers gripped the tile laid upon the counter. Her deep blue eyes closed as tears began to slide their way down her cheeks. She just couldn't do this anymore. It was too painful. The people she used to call her friends rarely talked to her anymore. They'd always told her something was wrong, but she always refused to listen. A part of her had, as in most of these cases, that it just wasn't true. Raising her head up to look at the ceiling, she sniffled once. A single, muffled sob slipped past her lips, then she got herself under control. Indeed, she couldn't do this anymore. She suffered because of it too much. It was time to take a deep breath, and go out into the unknown.

'Cause the truth is gonna set you free
If you keep on lyin' to me, I might stay right here,
Just to spite you...

Stepping back to their room, she refused to look at him. The robe was taken off, she gathered the clothes she'd laid out on the chair for the next day, and stepped back out into the hallway. Away from the nightlight, she pulled on her jeans, her tshirt, then the hooded sweatshirt she always wore since her navy years. It wrapped her in warmth and stability, and gave her the courage to know that she'd be alright. A silly thing, more of a security blanket to her than anything. Slipping on her socks, she left her shoes by the door, padding back in momentarily just to get the suitcase she'd had previously packed, all those times before when she swore she would leave, but never had the heart to. This was it, no going back. The thought tickled her mind to stay, to torture him, but she knew better than to do so. It would only bring her down farther and she couldn't handle that anymore. Now was the time to leave. It was now or never, live or suffer, and she chose to live.

Where'd you get that alibi?
Did it fall out of a midnight sky
Or did you find it on the side of the road?

Tell me, did you have to make a deal
Or wrestle for control of the wheel from your conscience?
I'd like to know, where do you go, on your way home....

Gathering the small things, momentos of better times, she slid them into the side compartment of the suitcase, and packed a small duffle with whatelse didn't fit. As he lay slumbering blissfully, thinking he'd gotten away with the best of crimes, she was gathering the strength and courage to leave him. Nothing would stop her now, short of him waking up, but that wasn't a worry. He never woke up until morning, not a surprise to her. While she had sat up crying all night long after he came home, he stayed asleep, unaware of the pain he was putting her through. But it all changed here and now. A picture of them on their wedding day caught her eye, and her slender fingers reached for it. How pretty she looked back then... How happy they both looked, too bad it had fallen away like it did. She stuck the picture in her duffle and closed it up. A deep breath, and she turned back to the hallway, padding silently to gather her shoes. One last time, she looked at him, finding strength in her voice despite the lump that gathered in her throat.

Where'd you get that alibi?
Did it fall out of a midnight sky
Or did you find it, lying on the side of the road?

Was it ever a long long drive?
Did you ever stop once to cry, or was I worth it?
I think I know....Where do you go...
Where do you go, on your way home...

She spoke the words, her soul lifting free as she said them. He wouldn't hear them, though he might have a faint memory of them in his dreams, but they were her release. She could finally let him go, despite what they'd been through before. She didn't hate him, she still loved him a little bit, but she just couldn't live with him and love him the way she once did. Honestly, she hoped that someday, maybe they could be friends again, not as close as before, but friends none the less. But for now she had to work on recollecting herself, bringing herself back to the person she once was, and enjoying life. After she was back to her old self again, then maybe they would talk, but for now all she had to worry about was herself, as it should have been long ago...

"Goodbye..." It was the last word she said before she turned and headed to the door. No lipstick message, no flower on the pillow and wisp of perfume on the air. Little memories of her were left for him to think upon, but she was gone. She'd been gone long ago, it just took her a while to realize it. Stepping into her sneakers, she slung her duffle on her shoulder and pulled her suitcase out the door. Behind her, she left the keys to their home on the table. Ahead of her was the whole world, she just needed to see it. And now she would. The dawn of the new day was just rising over the horizon, a sign that she was indeed doing the right thing. Closing her eyes, she smiled and took in the cool fresh air around her. "Here's to new beginnings..." Loading her bags into her car, she turned up the radio and began on her long journey.