This place was on the quayside and had been some sort of warehouse; the hook had been part of a block and tackle, used for lifting goods from the ship to the shore. All that hung from it now was a antique bird cage, with artificial ivy trailing from it.
She was looking forward to this weekend, the wedding of an old friend, she had arrived a day early to make sure she got chance to explore the area and use the hotel facilities. She needed a break, things had been stressful recently. When her husband had left her it had been a shock, but she was determined to make a fresh start, and this weekend might be the kick-start she needed. She had gone down the traditional route of anti-depressants etc. When all was said and done, she was better off without him if he didn’t want to be with her, why should she get depressed? She had been a little hurt that he had gone off with a younger woman, but now she was fed up with everyone being so understanding, they were treating her like she was fragile, crushed by circumstances, in need of sympathy. They would soon see she was fine and ready to get on with her life.
She had a quiet dinner and a few drinks, probably more than she should, certainly more than she was used to. She returned to her room and flicked the switch, a slight flash then nothing; there was sufficient moonlight that she could make her way towards the phone, to call reception for assistance. She had just lifted the receiver when she noticed the shadow. She replaced the handset and turned towards the window. There, hanging from the hook was a noose and underneath, the stool which earlier had stood beside the dressing table. She was drawn towards it like a moth to a flame, she reached up to touch it, it was soft, silky, she realised it was one of her own scarves; she was a little dizzy, confused, why was the noose there? What did it mean? She climbed onto the stool, planning to remove the scarf and complain to the hotel management that someone had been in her room, but the hook seemed to beckon her and she touched it, cold and smooth, the scarf tightly fixed to it. Almost in a trance she placed the noose around her neck, still staring at the hook, it was almost a relief when she realised the stool was no longer beneath her feet.
The chambermaid found her the next morning; she ran screaming from the room. Everyone was very upset but not altogether surprised. Jenny had been in a very dark mood since Gary had walked out on her, everyone knew she was on medication to help her cope; the final straw must have been the thought of attending the wedding. Poor Jenny, Gary shouldn’t blame himself in any way, she was obviously unstable, and who could have anticipated that she would react so badly to the breakdown of the marriage?
Gary was a lucky fellow, no messy divorce, no sharing his property and pension with his former wife, he could marry Angela, and now they could have an extended honeymoon. It was quite useful that she was a medical rep, who sometimes carried samples. She had told him about one particular batch of anti-depressants which were being discreetly withdrawn, as they had left people in a trance like state. It wouldn’t do for her to find out that he had helped himself to a few, or that he had been hiding in Jenny’s hotel room on that fateful night. He couldn’t believe his luck when she had put the noose around her neck, he had thought he might have to push her from the window while she was examining the hook and noose, all he had to do was kick the stool and it was all over. No it wouldn’t do for Angela to find out; he might tire of her eventually too.
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