Well, let's try to move on

Nancy

There was a bus stop five hundred meters from the Morton property. I always looked at that empty and little-used place whenever I was in my husband's family's private car heading into the city to do everyday things like shopping or going to my schoolchildren, and today I dragged my suitcase to that bus stop and sat there waiting for public transport to show up. 

But where was I going? It didn't take long for me to realize the difficulty I was going to face, in having a place to go. Where was I going? What would I do from now on? I realized that I was so comfortable in my marriage that I never thought about myself individually. How would I survive a divorce? I was a thirty-eigth-year-old woman who had practically never worked in my life, as I had spent half my life taking care of my husband and children. But now that I was separating, how was I going to survive in this world alone? 

By the time I left the Morton house, I hadn't even stopped to think about it. I just desperately wanted to get away from Bruce and never come back, but now how was I going to maintain myself? I thought about my parents, who lived in Castle Rock, the neighboring town. Would they accept me back into their home? I was their daughter after all, but remembering how they handed me over to the Mortons, almost selling me to them in exchange for money and material goods, I didn't want to have any relationship with them; so I crossed out the option of going back to my parents' house. 

Apart from that option, I had little left; I had saved some money with me, and I could take the bus, go to the city, pay for a hotel room, and stay there until I got a job to support myself. Not everything was lost; I could turn things around. 

At that moment, my cell phone vibrated, and I sighed before answering it. “Hi, Lanie,” I said dejectedly. 

“Why do you look so sad? Wasn’t the night of love with your husband so good?” she asked. 

I let out another sigh, pulling the hem of my dress down, and adjusting it. “It was a disaster, actually. He hated it,” I replied, remembering Bruce's reaction when he saw me sitting there on the bed wearing that ridiculous lingerie. 

"Oh really? Wow… I didn’t expect that one,” she said, disappointed. 

“That’s right, friend. And not only that, I caught him cheating on me,” I revealed. 

"What? Wait a second! Did I hear you right?” Lanie asked, shocked. 

“I swear to God, Lanie. I… I'm devastated,” I said, laughing a little that ended up choking, with a lump forming in my throat. 

“Oh, Nancy, I'm so sorry... You don't deserve to go through this; no woman does,” she said, sympathizing with my situation. Lanie was my childhood friend, one of those rare friendships that we made in elementary school and that lasted a lifetime. She didn't live in Denver because life circumstances ended up separating us, but even though she lived in another state and had a totally different lifestyle than me, she and I had never stopped being true friends, so I knew that she was really touched by the situation. “Where are you now, darling? Are you at the Morton mansion?” she asked. 

“I packed my bag, Lanie. I just can't look at that man's face,” I said, ending up sniffling with anger. 

“You were right to leave. And now? Where are you going?” she asked. 

“I’ll try to find a place here in the city,” I said. 

“Why don’t you come to Vegas?” She suggested. 

“In Nevada? B-but I've never been there,” I said, amazed by my friend's suggestion. 

“Well, it's time for you to see my house, don't you think? Furthermore, it will do you good to spend some time away from Denver; you will be able to think better and organize your thoughts. Come, darling,” she said, convincing me. 

“Las Vegas would be a wonderful idea,” I commented, imagining it. 

“If you can, get on a plane today and come here without thinking twice. I'll take care of everything else,” she said, making me close my eyes and be grateful to have a friend like her. 

“Thank you so much, Lanie, really. Thank you for always taking care of me,” I said, moving. 

"Relax; you know that to me, you are more than a sister,” she said with a giggle. 

****

I did exactly what Lanie suggested and immediately took a flight to Las Vegas. She was waiting for me at the airport, and when she saw me, she ran over to give me a hug, which I returned with emotion. She was a woman taller than me who wore a sophisticated feminine suit that made her look important; her hair was short and neatly tied close to her head in the mullet style and her jewelry looked expensive, there was a big smile on her face when she hugged me tight. 

“My God, Nancy. Is it really you? Time has favored you so much; you are still divine,” she said with both hands on my face, looking at me with a big smile. It had been so long since we had seen each other in person. 

“Don’t exaggerate, Lanie. Many years have passed,” I said, also smiling at seeing her after so long. 

She clicked her tongue and shook her hands. “Of course not; you still look stunning. I hate your husband for doing what he did to a woman as beautiful and sweet as you,” she said, making me hug her again. “Now no more sadness, darling. Welcome to Vegas, or as I like to call it, adult paradise,” she said, beaming. 

She took me to her house in a convertible car that had a very striking green color, and since it was night when I arrived in the city, I was surprised by how bright and busy the streets were. Lanie lived alone in a top-notch VIP condominium in an upscale neighborhood—a small, sophisticated, and well-equipped mansion. I knew she had done well in life, but I didn't know she was doing this well. 

"Gosh, friend! Your house is so beautiful. What do you work with to pay for this place?” I asked, still in awe as I noticed that luxurious place. I remember like yesterday when she and I were two inseparable children from humble families, but Lanie was the kind of woman who wasn't afraid to face danger, so I always knew she would conquer the world. 

“It’s really beautiful, right? I work in bookmaking and casino management; it’s not a job that people would call decent, but it manages to give me an excellent living,” she explained, making me nod. She took my hand, gently pulling me towards the stairs. “Come, and I'll show you your room; I've already prepared it, but you can leave it in the way that will make you feel most comfortable,” she said, showing me the room, which did not deviate from the luxury of the entire house. 

“It’s great the way it is, friend. That’s more than enough,” I said with a smile. 

“As you see, I live alone in this place, and I barely stay at home because I'm a beautiful fucking businesswoman and all that,” she said, rolling her eyes and making me giggle. She touched my shoulders now, making me look at her. “But I want you to feel completely at home. Take some time for yourself, relax, and take care of yourself; give it time for this pain you're feeling to pass,” she added, making my eyes water. So I hugged her and cried silently, sinking in my own sadness.