Lucia looked horrified and drained.
She slopped her drink on the mahogany top of the bar. "You are breaking up with me?" she repeated. "You mean you don't want me anymore?"
"I tried so hard to tell you nicely, but you've been so sure of yourself-"
"No Manuel, I've never been so sure of myself, but I've been so sure of you. I've always thought your love for me was as enduring as mine for you. You mustn't say I've been so sure of myself. I've always trusted your love. I had to have something that I wouldn't doubt. Don't you understand! With all these horrible chaos in the world, with lies and envy and sordid business, I decided to hung on to the one thing I thought would never forsake me - and that's you Manuel?"
He said, "Am very sorry. "
"Yeah you should,"- She passed her fingers through her hair - "I know you are; when did you even decide to come up this same insane idea? "
"Now that I've told you I don't want to talk about it anymore." he said.
"You can't leave it like that. I'm crazy about you. You know how crazy I am about you. Have I done anything wrong? "
Manuel shook his head. "I thought I could find the happiness I wanted with you, but I hadn't, I must live my life. I don't need you anymore Lucia."
Benson watched Lucia dispassionately. He noticed that she had suddenly gone pale and it was with great difficulty that she controlled herself.
"Please." She begged, "Don't say like that, you are making my love sound like a donation to the hospital. Are you being perverted? Isn't it rather a beast thing to do."
"I suppose I must expect to hear that sort of thing, but it won't stop me I've really made up my mind once and for all."
Manuel reached out and grabbed his phone and car keys. "Goodbye Lucia, please do yourself a favor and don't ever come looking for me."
"Don't go, please," she said quickly. "Please don't do this to me, you can't leave me like this. I've not done anything wrong to deserve this, for God's sake please think about what you doing, please Manuel I still need you."
He slid off the stool, "There is really nothing more to be done, it's already settled. Nothing you say will change my mind."
Benson watched him go across the bar and walked outside through the swing door.
Lucia remained sited watching, staring at the door hoping Manuel would come back and say it was just a joke.
She waited and waited to no avail until Benson had to come in.
"Can I get you another drink miss, it's on the house."
"Yeah just leave the bottle, it may do me a lot better."
After several drinks she decided to head back home.
She stormed straight to her room and before she realized it she had blinked too late her eyes brimmed with tears.
She cried her eyes out in fear of losing her only true love, some who she truly treasured and loved with all her heart and soul.