For All the Broken Hearts

3

A big sigh escaped the Orc as he swept his gaze around his flat. The moon light from behind him streamed in, casting his large, hulking shadow into the hallway.

He expected an excited, sing-songy voice to welcome him home, to tell him that foods on the table and ready to eat.

The Orc flinched at the silence. He shook his head, sighing and shutting the door behind him. Why did he expect it?

It had been like this for 3 weeks.

He was confused, stunned when you told him that you thought things weren't working. He'd begged you for a second chance, another opportunity to prove that he could do better, be better... but the look on your face, your placid expression made it clear to him:

You were done.

He endlessly searched his mind, desperate to find something that he had done wrong - had he accidentally flirted with someone? Had he said something? Done something, anything?

Turning on the front room lights and opening the freezer, the Orc sighed. Normally, the fridge would have been filled with fresh vegetables, meat and sauces, all of which you would use to cook the most delicious gourmet meals known to man.

Well, they were gourmet to your ex-Orc Boyfriend.

He smiled, sadly, remembering the dishes you made with fondness.

There was nothing better than coming home, to one of your exquisitely prepared meals after a tiring and hard day at work.

Inside the fridge now, was nothing but a microwave meal. Popping the thin plastic film, your voice scolded him for having such a poor choice for a meal.

"At least boil some rice or something!" He heard your voice in his mind.

The microwave whirred, his processed meal turning slowly.

While that was... 'cooking', the Orc turned to his front room and turned on the TV. He mindlessly scrolled through the channels, reality TV shows, informational and geographical programs flicked past him.

You liked watching cooking programs, that's where you got most of your food ideas from.

He groaned as the microwave beeped at him, harsh and unfriendly. Nothing like you.

After plating, he sat in the sofa and settled on a telenovela.

The female protagonist, a gorgeous Elf woman swung her long blonde curls, pointing at the male love interest, "How can you ignore me, Ronaldo?!" She declared, tears streaming down her cheeks, mascara trailing after them. "I work tirelessly for you! Do everything! Why can't you just show some appreciation for once?! Take me out to dinner or something?"

The Orc froze, watching the scene unfold, the Elf woman wailing as her love interest protested: "What are you talking about?! I do all the heavy lifting! I go out and earn my keep, so you can live easily, why don't you appreciate that?!"

His heart in his throat, your ex seized the remote beside him and fumbled, desperate to turn off the TV. Once the screen had blackened, the Orc sat in silence, microwave meal untouched in his lap.

And that's when he realised... it was him. You did work hard, you stayed at home at his request and did all the house work. When you made an attempt to cuddle or to go on a date with him, he was always too tired from work to do any of that.

The faces of disappointment and sadness as you had tried to get him to show any kind of love for you... And he'd just dismissed it. Ignored how you felt in favour of himself.

He looked down at his dinner for one, vision blurring.

Big, salty tears ran down his cheeks as he realised what he had lost.