Through the Noose by Katherine Bonnie Bailey

The rough fibers of the rope burned his skin as he fashioned the knot. It was a motion he’d practiced dangerously often. While Deborah was at yoga class, while Deborah was at the grocery store, while Deborah was in the shower.

Somehow, he felt the practice of tying the noose would keep his courage up, that it would become so second nature the ease of it would help him see his plan through.

It had taken years of pain – incessant depression, anger – to drive him to it.