Questions below pertain to the following passage: Leaving Even though Martin and Beth’s steps were muffled by the falling snow, Beth could still hear the faint crunch of leaves underneath. The hushed woods had often made Beth feel safe and at peace, but these days they just made her feel lonely. “I’m glad we decided to hike the trail, Martin. It’s so quiet and pretty.” “Sure.” Beth couldn’t understand how it happened, but over the past few months this silence had grown between them, weighing down their relationship. Of course, there was that thing with Mary, but Beth had forgiven Martin.... Show more

Questions below pertain to the following passage:

Leaving
Even though Martin and Beth’s steps were muffled by the falling snow, Beth could still hear the faint crunch of leaves underneath. The hushed woods had often made Beth feel safe and at peace, but these days they just made her feel lonely.
“I’m glad we decided to hike the trail, Martin. It’s so quiet and pretty.”
“Sure.”
Beth couldn’t understand how it happened, but over the past few months this silence had grown between them, weighing down their relationship. Of course, there was that thing with Mary, but Beth had forgiven Martin. They moved on. It was in the past.
“Do you want to see a movie tonight?” asked Beth. “There’s a new one showing at the downtown theater.”
“Whatever you want.”
She wanted her husband back. She wanted the laughter and games. She wanted the late-night talks over coffee. She wanted to forget Mary and Martin together. She wanted to feel some sort of rapport again.
“Is everything alright, Martin?”
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“We didn’t have to come; we could have stayed at home.”
“It’s fine.”
Beth closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and breathed in the crisp air. “Fine” once meant “very good,” or “precious.” Now, it is a meaningless word, an excuse not to tell other people what’s on your mind. “Fine” had hung in the air between them for months now, a softly falling word that hid them from each other. Beth wasn’t even sure she knew Martin anymore, but she was confident that it was only a matter of time before everything was not “fine,” only a matter of time before he told her…
“I have to leave.”
“Huh?,What?”
“I got a page. My patient is going into cardiac arrest.”
“I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
“I know.”

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