“Blaine, Im home.”

Kurt was in the middle of removing his bag in a familiar motion, stilling when he noticed how quiet it was. He dropped his bag near the door, stepping into the living room.

Blaine wasn't cleaning while playing one of his favorite Broadway albums. Kurt's chest hurt, remembering a time when they would dance and sing to Blaine's records in the living room.

Kurt leaned forward to peer into the kitchen, finding it exactly the way he had left it.

Blaine wasn't making dinner. Kurt thought on when Blaine would wash the dishes, giving them to Kurt to dry and put away. Somehow, Blaine would always manage to get suds up to his arms. Kurt suspected it was on purpose with the intention of engulfing Kurt in a hug full of bubbles before tapping some suds on his own nose only to nuzzle it against Kurt's.

But those moments of singing and laughter were just a hazy memory. The apartment was completely silent. More silent than it had been in years.

Blaine wasn't running lines or rehearsing a musical number. Kurt smiled, remembering how excited but nervous Blaine used to get about performing. Now he just went through the motions, jaded.  No one else seemed to notice. But Kurt did. Kurt noticed everything.

“Blaine?” Kurt called out, softer than before.

Five years ago, they had gotten together. Younger. Spontaneous. Wonderful.

Kurt would give anything to turn back the clock.

Blaine could be planning something. It was their anniversary, after all. Kurt smiled at the notion, remembering how often Blaine would plan these grand, romantic gestures. Remembering last year's anniversary. Even though they hadn't been completely happy, even then, it had been a nice night. Nice enough. Nicer than the past few nights.

“Blaine?”

Kurt pushed the bedroom door open, expecting to find Blaine there. Instead, he found a letter. Another party to celebrate the opening of Blaine's new show. With other people. People who weren't Kurt. People who were more important to Blaine than Kurt.

“Of course,” he muttered, looking up to the ceiling in hope to stall tears that were forming. Kurt bitterly smiled and wondered to himself when he would catch Blaine in his next lie.

But he didn't have to. He didn't have to stay waiting around for Blaine. Not anymore. Not ever again. He didn't have to. He didn't.

Kurt removed his wedding band, placing it firmly on the dresser.

He would write out a handwritten letter, probably revising it multiple times before creating the draft with the best word choice that could properly convey his emotions. But, for now, he would do entirely different writing. He was finally ready to pen the final chapter to his novel because, although the ending he had been mulling over may not be seen as perfect by everyone, including his editor, it was what was right. For everyone. For the both of them.

As Kurt sat down to write, he marveled at himself being able to smile. He actually enjoyed the silence. It sure beat the sound of arguing with Blaine.