Chapter 1: Wisdom Is Her Name

The embers from the fire were no longer visible from this distance. Yet, ashes fell like snow despite the fact that the summer sun was already vanishing from the tawny sky.

Her blouse that was once neat white was now stained in cinders. Her hair that was once treated a week ago is now as crooked as the burnt tree in front of her house.

Wisdom was now sitting by the corner of the road. Her house was on fire just hours ago. The only thing remains of her were the apparel she was wearing, her second-hand laptop and mobile phone, and her coin purse that has no more than ten coins, as well as her leather wallet that she had since high school that has no more than a hundred dollars. Everything was burnt—including the pictures of her and her husband. Well, ex-husband-to-be since she could no longer endure it. She will divorce Richard as early as now, even if he is still banging that treacherous best friend of hers.

Wisdom was well aware that misfortune is her middle name since she was born. But, the fact that her husband just left their house with the stove turned on and went to her best friend’s condominium unit to have a bed session is just utterly outrageous…and unlawful.

Richard, her husband, could have at least have some decency to leave the house properly before he had a bed wrestling with her best friend, Francine. Well, her husband had been an asshole ever since, that’s why she wouldn’t wonder if ever Richard passed as the dumbest man in the world—because he's dumb as shit anyway.

Wisdom couldn’t bring herself to weep; not even a tear would come out from her eyes. How could she weep when her only inheritance from her parents became ashes while her husband was feasting his cock inside her best friend?

She just arrived from work when she spotted the fire even from a kilometre away while driving her car—the car that was gifted to her during her eighteenth birthday.

She seized her mobile phone and dialled the number of one of her close friends, who was a lawyer. Thank heaven anyway that at least she has a little salvation in her marriage.

Wisdom stared at the still-busy street. Paramedics giving first aid to the affected neighbors; several people are still wailing under the now starry sky.

‘People are just too overacting. I didn’t even cry here that my entire house was just burnt and my husband was also burnt…of sexual pleasure.’ She mused as she ate the chocolate that was given to her by her boss, Gerry.

In her relief, the smoke was no longer that black. Unlike hours ago, the smoke was wholly thick and black as charcoal.

Her phone vibrated. She checked her messages and was elated that her friend, the lawyer, was happy to help her. Well, that’s what a man gets in drilling different holes—a divorce.

She may be not that rich compared to Francine (her bestfriend) but at least, she has loyalty; she has a word of honour. Yet, it seems that Richard doesn’t deserve her loyalty—not even an inch of her affection.

And Wisdom, as witty as her name, would prefer to live on her own than to reside with an asshole under one roof.

***

Minutes turned to hours, hours turned to days, and days turned to weeks.

Three weeks had passed and Wisdom Weisz was now living in her own walls, in her own roof. Her soon-to-be ex-husband really went and chose her best friend over her.

Her cheap apartment may be simple for an office worker, a secretary, like her. But, she’s a plain girl after all. Simplicity is beauty for her; her apartment that’s just a few blocks away from her office is already a jackpot for Wisdom.

She grabbed her car keys and locked her apartment door as she got the paper that contained her grocery list. Wisdom was always frugal ever since college; she’s much more frugal now, especially since she was living alone and her monthly salary may only last for weeks for a city’s daily life.

Wisdom then drove to the nearest grocery store. She inhaled as soon as she arrived. Even though her sorrow still lingers deep in her heart, she must paint a cheerful face. The world doesn’t need much drama when each one of our lives already consists of various dramas.

‘I hope that the two snakes are not in there…’ She prayed.

As she opened her car door, the sight of her ex-best friend’s car was caught by her turquoise eyes.

“She’s here…or perhaps the two of them.”

As brave as ever, she walked briskly towards the store’s entrance, disregarding any chance of her and Francine meeting. The store was huge anyway, perhaps there’s only gonna be a fifty-fifty probability of her meeting that bitch. She’s here for shopping anyway, and not for having a quarrel with a husband-stealer woman that called herself her best friend.

She was in the meat section when she came across the person that would've made her gladly sell her soul to the devil as long as she'll not meet her ever again.

Unexpectedly, their eyes met. But, Wisdom was not looking at Francine’s eyes.

She was looking at her belly.