Benjamin approaches them with an uncomfortable look.

“Hi…” He says as the two of them stare at him. “Are you ok?” He asks half-heartedly.

“I am fine…” Ann says as Nicholas stands up and stares at Benjamin.

“What do you want?” Nicholas says sounding tough. Ann has only seen Nicholas’s kind and compassionate side, now she is about to see his strong and defensive side of him.

“I just came to check on her…” Benjamin says.

“Why?” Nicholas asks firmly.

“What do you mean why?” Benjamin asks. “Didn’t you see what happened?”

“I did. Did you?” Nicholas stands strong and determined in front of Benjamin who is now growing angry.

“Look this wasn’t my fault ok. That woman was the one who threw the drink at her.” Benjamin says defensively.

“But you just stood by, doing nothing.” Nicholas says. “It didn’t seem to bother you then? So why now?”

“It’s not my fault… she was telling me I needed counselling but the truth of the matter is I’m fine.” Benjamin says as Nicholas takes a moment to listen to his words.

“What did she say exactly…” Nicholas asks as Benjamin looks at him silently. “Are you really angry because of something like that?”

“You don’t understand! I am fine and I don’t need help…” Benjamin shouts.

“Keep telling yourself that…” Nicholas says as he turns around and walks away. Just then Benjamin is about to charge at Nicholas but is interrupted by Ann.

“Nick…” She says softly. “The reason people come for counselling is when they realize something is wrong and they want to make it right again.” Nicholas looks at Ann and smiles as he holds her hand. Without much to say, Benjamin turns around and storms off. As he walks away he sees Tom who stares at him angrily and walks away. Nicholas stays with Ann and takes her home.

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After about an hour, Benjamin is sitting alone at a bar drinking. He is soon joined by Tom who sits next to him. They look at each other silently for a moment then Benjamin begins to speak.

“I know what you’re going to say. What is wrong with you? How could you just sit back…”

“No that is not what I want to say!” Tom says interrupting him firmly. “Ben we grew up together. I have known you for years and this…Isn’t you.”

“What is that supposed to mean…” Benjamin asks angrily.

“Look at yourself…Ever since Scarlet left you have changed so much.”

“Everyone changes.”

“But this is not a good change….”

“Look, I know what I am doing…”

“Oh save it!” Tom says as he takes a shot. “The man I knew wouldn’t just stand by and watch something like that happen. He wouldn’t just watch something like that happen and not try to help… He would not walk around like a zombie, go for fencing practice and then go home only to sleep for most of the day. And he certainly would not sit around, get drunk, act like a buffoon and then pretend he is in control and actually knows what he did!” Just as Benjamin is about to say something Tom stops him yet again. “Don’t bother with the excuses Ben. You can lie to everyone, but at least be honest with yourself.” Tom says as he gets up and storms off. Trying to brush off his words, Benjamin continues drinking. He knows what Tom said is the truth but he cannot admit it.

He goes home that night, drunk as ever and throws up in the bathroom. He sits on the ground thinking about what Ann said earlier. ‘Nothing is wrong with me…’ he says to himself. As he sits there all alone with his thoughts, he thinks back to a year ago. He was happy with his wife, with his friends… his life. Ever since she left, it was like she took his happiness along with her. ‘No…I am fine…’ he thinks to himself. He thinks about his daily routine these days, he recalls how fencing used to be his favourite thing, but now it is just something he does. He has been sleeping an unusual lot as well. ‘I am just tired’ he thinks to himself. ‘I need to sleep… tomorrow morning it’ll be like today didn’t happen’. He thinks as he gets up from the bathroom floor and goes to his bedroom. Unsteady on his feet, he ends up bumping into a table and something falls to the ground. Benjamin picks it up and sees a photo of himself, a picture of him smiling as he had won an Olympic medal. He looks at the photo and looks up and sees his reflection. The shocking difference he sees in the photo and the mirror breaks down the walls he’s been building up for months. ‘I am not fine…’ he finally admits as he falls to the floor sobbing.