Chapter 7

As Becky listened to Ellen's gloating, she felt a surge of determination. She wasn't going to let Ellen get the best of her. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down, thinking of a plan.

"Well, congratulations again, Ellen," Becky said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "I'm sure you'll be very happy with William."

Ellen's laughter continued, and Becky could sense her satisfaction. "Oh, I will be," Ellen said. "I'll make sure of it."

Becky's eyes narrowed as she listened to Ellen's words. She knew that Ellen was trying to get under her skin, but she wasn't going to let her succeed.

"Well, I should go," Becky said, trying to sound uninterested. "It was nice talking to you, Ellen."

Ellen's laughter stopped, and Becky could sense a hint of annoyance in her tone. "Oh, don't go just yet, Becky," Ellen said. "I wasn't finished talking to you."

Becky's instincts told her to hang up the phone, but she decided to see what Ellen wanted. "What else do you want to say?" Becky asked, trying to sound bored.

"I just wanted to remind you of your place," Ellen said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You're nothing but a footnote in William's life now. And soon, you'll be nothing but a distant memory."

Becky's anger flared up again, but she kept her cool. "I think I've heard enough, Ellen," she said. "Goodbye."

With that, Becky hung up the phone, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she had to be careful around Ellen, but she was determined not to let her get to her.

As she sat at the bus station, Becky couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her. She knew that she had to start over, to build a new life for herself. And she was determined to do just that.

With a newfound sense of determination, Becky stood up and walked into one of the buses that seemed to stop. She was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, however at this moment, she needed a place to crash for the night.

It was already 8pm when the bus halted at another bus station. Becky got out with her bags all stacked on her.

As Becky walked out of the bus station, she found herself on 5th Avenue, just a few hours away from William's apartment.

The street was lined with old buildings, some of which looked like they had been abandoned for years. Becky walked down the street, her eyes scanning the buildings for a place to stay. She had no other option but to find a cheap place to rent, at least for a day or two.

After walking for a while, Becky saw a sign that read "Rooms for Rent" in a small, rundown building. She walked up to the building and knocked on the door. An old man answered, looking her up and down before nodding.

"You're here for the room?" he asked, his voice gruff.

Becky nodded, pulling out the last of her money. "Yes, I'll take it," she said, handing him the cash.

The landlord took the money, counting it before handing her a key. "Room 3B," he said. "You'll be on the third floor. Don't cause any trouble, okay?"

Becky nodded, taking the key. "I won't, I promise. I'll keep to the rules strictly. You shouldn't worry."

The landlord nodded, seeming to relax a bit. "Alright, just remember: no loud noise after 10 PM, no visitors without permission, and rent is due every week. Got it?"

Becky nodded again. "Yes, got it. Don't worry, I'll follow the rules."

The landlord nodded and turned to leave. "Alright, you're all set. The room's yours for now."

As he walked away, Becky took a deep breath and inserted the key into the lock of the door beside the room number 3B, then she entered the apartment. The room was small, with a single bed pushed against one wall and a small table with a chair in the corner. The walls were painted a dull yellow, and the carpet was stained and worn.

Becky looked around, taking in the small space. It was cramped, but it was home for now. She knew she had to make do with what she had. The room was tiny, but at least it was hers.

As she looked around, Becky couldn't help but think about how broke she was. She had given the landlord all the money she had left, and now she was going to have to starve herself for a day or two. But she knew she had to be strong, to survive. She would find a way to make ends meet, to get back on her feet.

For now, she just had to make do with what she had. Becky sat down on the bed, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her. She knew she had a long road ahead of her, but she was determined to make it work.

Now, she needed to find a job. As Becky unpacked her few belongings, she couldn't help but think about her future. She had been a housewife for so long, taking care of William and their home. But now, she needed to find a job to support herself. The problem was, she had no idea where to start. She had been out of the workforce for so long, and she wasn't sure who would hire her.

As she was thinking about her job prospects, her phone beeped. She pulled it out and saw a message from her best friend, Rachel. "Hey babe, been a long time! How are you doing? How's William? When will you come visit me?"

Becky smiled, feeling a pang of nostalgia. She and Rachel had been friends since college, and they had always been close. But after Becky married William, they had drifted apart. Becky had been so caught up in her life with William that she hadn't had time for anyone else.

Becky's smile faltered as she thought about how she would respond to Rachel's message. She couldn't tell her the truth - that she had left William and was struggling to make ends meet. Not yet, at least.

She decided to respond with a vague message, hoping to gauge Rachel's reaction. "Hey Rach, I'm doing okay. Just going through some stuff. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

Becky hesitated for a moment before sending the message. She knew Rachel would be concerned, but she wasn't ready to talk about her situation yet. She needed some time to figure things out for herself.

As she waited for Rachel's response, Becky couldn't help but think about her friend. Rachel was always there for her, supportive and understanding. Becky hoped that wouldn't change, even after she told Rachel the truth about her situation.