The burdens

Rain tapped lightly on the window. The man stared at his own reflection without expression. The gray skies gave the blue walls a boring hue and the only source of color came from the half drained orange juice on the table behind him. He sat on a chair he had turned toward the window, his disturbingly skinny feet dangling off and his jeans loosely fitting. He wore a white wife beater and had a farmers tan contrasting his light hair, the Eagle, Globe, and Fouled Anchor gleaming on his shoulder.
Time had no meaning while he sat, his body aching to move, but knowing he can't. The front door clicked open and the marine turned his head toward the sound then lifted himself on his arms and slid into a chair beside him then sneaking a swig of whiskey from his flask in his pocket.
"Hey honey" she called clinking her keys on a solid surface. The woman was brunette standing average height and was wearing no make up but was still a pretty girl. She carried two plastic bags filled with groceries and came from the front hallway and stood for a moment in the door to ask "Paul are you OK?" seeing his expressionless face staring at the plate of food she cooked for him almost two hours ago.
"Yeah just tired."
"You say that every day. What's wrong hun?" She asked sweetly and with obvious concern.
"Just worried" he lied again. When she gave him a questioning look he added "it's their first deployment without me." She accepted this with a sigh and went to the kitchen putting up groceries. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Poking the cold bacon on his plate he sat silently.
She returned shortly poptart in hand and ate quickly then took her trash and Pauls plate to the kitchen to clean it. She back into the room now for a third time saying something about a spongebath to which he replied that he would do it himself, trying to hide his pain and hurt pride.
She stopped and looked at him. "Remember what happened las-" she was interrupted by a telephone ring. She scurried to the next room and came back in a rush saying something about someones water breaking. She rolled an I Love You off her tongue then left, locking the door behind her.
After a few minutes Paul picked himself off the chair and sat in the wheelchair, then rolled to the garage and grabbed out his old shaving kit. Then after much effort and a long period of time he climbed the stairs to the only full-bath in their condo.
He turned on the water to the tub and pulled out his old razor and began cleaning it. When the tub was finished filling he took another swig of his flask and climbed in, razor in hand. His last thoughts were of never being a burden again as the water turned red and his soul drained from his eyes.