Big Salmon Lake I got used to living without you

"It's n-" He blurted but his voice cracked and she was prepared to talk over him anyway so he clamped his mouth shut to listen. It was exhausting, being yelled at over and over. He felt strongly that if she only knew...Her perspective might shift. He also felt it was somewhat indicative of how dysfunctional their relationship was, given the fact she hadn't given him any opportunity to explain himself. She'd expressed no empathy or concern, just anger. Was this a relationship that was even worth fighting for? 

Whether or not it was, it was a relationship that he had been conditioned to accept. The yelling, the running away, the temper...He wasn't perfect, but at least he didn't choose to bail on her, or so he felt. He got the feeling she felt as though he had chosen to leave her, and he knew how she hated being left behind. 

"Will you let me ex-" He coughed, and cleared his throat. "Explain?" She'd said he was making excuses, and to be fair, he was. But he certainly hadn't crucified her for running away. He could call her out for having those double standards, but he knew better than to add fuel to the fire. At least, for as long as he had patience to do so.