Toxic Love
745 Words
Two years prior
Third Person POV
“Writing letters that you’re never gunna mail
Stay up and paint my favorite shade of red on your nails
Cause’ you cant fall asleep and you’re wishing you were with me
I’m gunna make you miss me.”
It was the fifth time that morning Ana's phone played the Sam Hunt song her husband, David, set as his personal ring tone. She connected with the lyrics far more than he knew.
9 months ago Ana brought their daughter to safety by separating from him. David was an addict. He put their daughter in danger multiple times while Ana desperately attempted everything in her power to motivate his sobriety. After countless failed attempts her only option to ensure her daughter's safety was to leave.
She and Eva found a beautiful home by a lake in New England. It was only an hours drive from where David was now living with his mother, the only person Ana trusted to watch over him and help control his deadly impulses.
On paper, life appeared to be free of flaws. Ana had enough money to support herself and her daughter comfortably, was highly intelligent and breathtakingly beautiful. She had every opportunity for happiness as long as she let go of the toxic love which engulfed her heart.
Despite that, she was still uncertain of her decision for she believed David was her fated love. For Ana's kind, a fated love was their soul mate, their perfect match created by the higher powers. If what she believed was true her abilities should have been able to aide in his battle. Despite the strong feelings she felt for her husband, after the years went by nothing she tried did anything to overthrow his demons.
“What David?” Ana answered the call as she walked outside, getting into her car for it was the only place she had a moment to herself.
“Damn babe, that is not the way to greet your man who is moving home tomorrow,” David replied with that hint of sarcasm she loved despite the aggravation it provoked in the moment.
David had kept his word and had not used since the day she and Eva left.
“You have your day’s mixed-up babe,” Ana said, adding a slight attitude of her own. “You are moving home a week from tomorrow as long as you continue on your path of sobriety. Eva’s birthday is the following Sunday. We planned this to surprise her.”
“I cannot wait that long. If I do not come home tonight, I will be dead by then. I cannot stay sober without you.”
David spoke his truth, his words expressing how lost he now felt without his family.
“Do not say things like that! I love you babe, always and forever but I cannot have your deadly choices around our daughter!”
After a pause David replied with defeat clear in his voice, “Okay babe, I warned you."
Ana's heart beat quickened as she took in his words. She knew he was trying to manipulate her into letting him move home sooner but his warning still sent a feeling a dread throughout her body.
Changing his tone he continued, "I need a pack of cigarettes and some food. Can you send me $20?”
“David, I have no money. I am sorry. I cannot.”
Unknown to her husband Ana's nails were digging into her palms. She hated saying no. Anxiety plagued her as she forced herself to deny her husband's wishes. Ana truly did not have the money to spare but also knew where it may be spent if she did. She enabled him before and refused to continue after she and Eva left.
A familiar man walked out her front door. Quickly she ended the call.
“I have to go.” The man walked into earshot. “I love you Dad.” The man could not know.
With a laugh, David spoke, “Yeah, sure. I love you too. You need to get rid of him NOW! I will hold your light and bear your darkness, always and forever but I cannot move forward until you realize he is not there for the reasons you believe.”
Ana ended her call quickly, holding back the tears threatening to spill as the man approached.
- Writer
