Nancy
The ringing of my cell phone woke me up, and I felt my lamp, picked up the device, and saw that my daughter was calling me.
“Hi, my love,” I said as soon as I answered, rubbing my face with my hand, still drowsy.
“Hello, Mom? Haven’t you come home yet?” Amber asked on the other end of the line.
"Um… Not yet, darling,” I replied a little fearfully. It had been two weeks since I was at my friend Lanie's house.
"Um... Okay? When do you plan to return?” She asked in a somewhat petulant manner.
I sighed. “To be honest, I don’t even know if I’m going back… I actually don’t intend to go back, sweetie,” I replied, being frank. Obviously, I wasn't planning on going back to Bruce after everything he did to me, and I was amazed that my daughter was asking me that question.
“Look, Mom, I know what you’re going through. Seriously, I know exactly what you're going through because I've been cheated on too. Do you remember Kenny, my ex-boyfriend?” She asked, making me frown as I tried to remember who this Kenny was. “Don't you remember? He and I dated for a long time in elementary school. So, at the time, I found out that he had taken another girl to the cinema instead of me. I got pissed and kicked his ass, which is why I've been through what you're going through,” she said, making me nod.
“Then I’m glad you understand me, honey,” I said.
“Of course I understand you, and I'm sorry about that, but like I'm saying, you have to go home, Mom. Dad called me and said they're having a hard time without you there; they need you there, Mom. I need you to go back there,” she said, making me swallow hard and look crestfallen.
“Apparently you don’t understand what I’m going through, darling,” I replied, feeling sad. “Your father was unfaithful to me, and my marriage of almost twenty years with him doesn't compare to this relationship you had with this Kenny guy, Amber. It's a whole life being thrown away here, all the love and dedication, a whole struggle being disregarded and being treated as if it were nothing. So don't ask me to go back there just because Bruce is panicking because he can't find where his toothbrush is,” I said, hearing her panting as if she were unhappy.
“Okay, Mom, I heard what you had to say, and I know you’re hurt and all; I already understand that! But do you know how many people watched the short video I made at Christmas last year when I was at home with you? The video got two million views in just one week, Mom,” she said, reminding me of that Christmas when she wouldn't put down her cell phone, was always recording content, and couldn't even spend time with her family properly. “My audience simply loves the fact that I have a consistent and well-formed family; they envy me and idolize me for that, Mom. You now want to divorce my father, which would destroy all my hard work, damn it! Yes, you were cheated on by Dad. And? Are you going to ruin your children's lives because of this? What fault do we have that you brought us into the world?”
I was silent, listening to those harsh words come out of her mouth. My eyes were starting to water, and my emotions were mixing. "Amber…" I stammered.
“Mom, I'm sorry for my harsh words, but I'm struggling to build my career. Please don't disturb this,” she said, and then her cell phone went dead, indicating she had turned it off.
I lay down on the bed, hugging the pillow. My daughter was right, wasn't she? It wasn't her fault that she had an incompetent mother like me; it wasn't her fault that I couldn't please my husband, and it wasn't like my feelings mattered. Whether Bruce cheated on me or not, it didn't matter because I had my responsibilities as a woman and mother; I had to take care of my home, and my husband and make sure everyone stayed happy and well, even if my heart was bleeding.
*****
“May I know how long you intend to stay in that room?” Lanie asked while she and I were at the table. She had insisted that I go to dinner with her, so I had no choice. I sighed resignedly, drinking my water. “Why don’t we hang out for a bit? There are so many fun things to do in this city. We could go shopping, have a relaxing day at the spa, and even go out for drinks and fun,” she suggested.
“It's just that I'm not in the mood for these things,” I replied, slowly cutting the meat without any desire. I wasn't even in the mood to eat.
“Awn,” lamented my friend with a sad look. “It hurts me so much to see you so sad like this, even though you were such an enlightened girl,” she said, making me sigh.
“I'm not a girl anymore, Lanie. That light inside me ended up going out, unfortunately,” I replied with my head down.
“All because of that scumbag husband of yours; screw him!” she cursed. “How was he able to leave you like this? It was as if he had sucked your soul, consumed your light, and reduced you to a worn and uninteresting shell. Meanwhile, he's there like a stud, having fun and fucking as many as he wants, and you're here in this depression, crying in the corner with no desire to live,” she said angrily. You could see how unhappy she was. “Holy shit, if I were you, Nancy, I swear to God I would pay him back in kind and give this man a taste of his own medicine!”
Nancy"What? Give it back in kind and make him taste his own medicine? What are you suggesting, Lanie?” I asked, being a little dumbfounded. She and I were still at the dinner table, and she had just suggested that. She shrugged now. "Yes. Didn't your husband go to bed with someone else? Then you also go to bed with another man, and then you become equals,” she explained, making me gasp. “How can you suggest such a thing? Do you think I'm such a vulgar woman up to this point? Do you think me going to bed with another man will solve things for me?” I asked, shocked that she was suggesting such a deviant thing. “It probably won't solve anything, but it will make you feel a little better. What is it? Do you think Bruce deserves happiness after all these years he played with you?” She retorted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to smudge my body by getting involved with someone I don’t know just to get revenge on him,” I countered. Lanie laughed, waving her hand. “I don't see it smudg
NancyThe following afternoon, I decided to make a delicious dinner for my friend as an apology for what had happened between us in the fitting room of that clothing store. I understood that Lanie only wanted the best for me; it was hurting her to see me as low as I was. She was trying so hard to help me that it was time for me to thank her in some way. So I decided to make steak with mashed potatoes, some typical food, to remind her of home. I was seasoning the steak to cook when my cell phone rang, receiving a call. I picked up the device to see who was calling me, and my blood froze when Bruce's name was there on the screen. Likewise, I dropped the device on the kitchen counter and recoiled my hand as if I had been stung by a bee. Why the hell was this man calling me? What did he want for me? Couldn't he see that I hated him now and that I was repulsed? Disturbed, I picked up the cell phone again and answered at once. "What do you want?" I asked dryly. “You really lost track of
NancyLanie understood perfectly how to groom a woman until she was beautiful, because, in the end, when I looked in the mirror, I definitely didn't recognize myself. My darkly highlighted hair was wavy and voluminous around my head, so soft and silky; the velvet red lipstick attractively outlined my mouth; the dark eyeliner around my eyes highlighted the blue of them; the red dress fit so elegantly and sexy on my body; on my feet, a high but comfortable heel; in my hand, a matching purse. I spun around on my own two feet to take a better look at myself, completely dazzled by my transformation. “What a beautiful woman! I would give you twenty-five years at most, Nancy,” said Lanie with a proud smile at the result of her work. “You really outdid yourself,” I praised her. She also looked pretty wearing a tight skirt and a strapless blouse that looked perfect on her. “We both look beautiful,” I added with a smile. “So let our girl's night begin!” She declared being excited, and I also
NancyI looked towards the man who had just arrived in the alley. There was little lighting there, so I couldn't see him clearly, but it was enough to draw the attacker's attention. The guy leaning over me looked at the silhouette. "Mind your fucking business; don’t get involved!” He hissed in the new man's direction. But the man didn't give up and approached; although there was little lighting there, I could now see his face. “I just decided that this is my business now,” he declared, grabbing the rapist by the shoulder and pulling him away from me. I finally found myself free. “Do you want to die, you son of a bitch? The aggressor shouted, returning the attack, wanting to punch the man, who dodged and only punched the attacker in the stomach. The two were grappling now, both rolling on the ground while throwing punches. I didn't stay there to see how far it could go; I ran out of there as if my life depended on it. For a moment, I didn't even realize where I was going; I just wan
Nancy“So you want to report an attempted rape, ma’am?” the officer asked me. I was at the city police station, sitting in front of the police, with the man who helped me, sitting in the chair on my right side and my aggressor lying on my left side. I nodded in response, being a little shy. “Yes, officer. I want to report an attempted rape,” I said. I had hit that man until I lost strength in my arm, and the man had even passed out. Likewise, I had taken a deep breath and felt relieved, so I accepted a ride from the man who helped me, and he took me to the police station. “Take this, to clean your hands,” he had said to me as he offered me a paper towel. There was blood on my hands, blood from my aggressor. “Thank you." I thanked him, taking the paper towel and cleaning my hand. But I remained silent almost the entire time because I had a lot to take in, and I mentally thanked my helper for not interrupting my thoughts. He didn't judge me or make any comments about my aggressive b
NancyHis name was Jake Gardner, he had told me. He was an intriguing guy who always seemed to have a solution to every event; he had an enchanting charm that drew me in, and I couldn't deny it. “You’re not exactly from this city, are you?” He asked after a while, still driving his car. I was sitting next to him with his coat still on my back, suddenly feeling very aware of his presence next to me. “Um… Yes. I'm actually from Denver,” I replied a little shyly. “Oh, Denver. A good city; I remember spending my childhood there,” he said wistfully, his hands still on the steering wheel. "For real?" I asked in surprise, looking at him. He was laughing lightly. “I remember my friends and I would always go to the mall to play video games after school, and then I would come home really late, and my parents would fight me about it,” he said. “So I feel sorry for your parents for having a kid as troublesome as you then,” I replied, chuckling. "So it is. Those were good times,” he comment
CandaceDenverI had barely left my room since the night Bruce and I were caught in the act by his wife. But leaving my room for what? To get the Mortons' condemning looks on me? I was already so frowned upon in that family, so imagine now that I was Harald's adulterous wife. Clearly, they wanted to burn me alive at the stake. That's why I avoided contacting them; I preferred to stay there in my room, chatting on social media with my friends, and waiting patiently until my husband returned from his trip and gave his ruling on my future. I knew I was in a bad spot because not much was in my favor now. My marriage contract wouldn't protect me from anything if I was to blame, and I was sure that Harald, my husband, would want to divorce me as quickly as possible; after all, he was eager to get rid of me. That bastard! He hadn't been happy with our wedding; while I was just bursting with happiness, he was there looking at it all with a displeased frown on his face, as if he were being fo
Nancy When I woke up the next morning, I was slightly startled when I noticed the man lying in bed next to me, so I tried to remember what had happened the night before. Lanie and I were at a nightclub, and an abuser tried to force me, but an attractive guy saved me from him. I stopped at the police station, and then I remembered my rescuer being kind and taking me to Lanie's house, but I didn't get out of the car because the man suggested going somewhere else. After all, according to him, our night was just beginning... His name was Jake Gardner, and he was now lying in the same bed as me. My eyes were wide, and my face flushed as very compromising images from last night flashed through my mind, giving me away. Apparently, I had really enjoyed myself… I got out of bed immediately, realizing that I was naked. I pulled the sheet to cover my body, completely embarrassed, but I ended up pulling the entire sheet and discovering Jake's body, who was also without clothes. Furthermore,