The hard truth
1211 Words
So I quietly followed him like a dummy, a zombie, that had no mind of its own.
Eagerly awaiting that explanation. To try to make sense of what I just saw.
While we went out of the party hall, The place became less and less clear.
More tears welled up in my eyes, making everything more blurry.
As we stepped outside into the chilly night, the sounds of laughter and music faded away.
Cold wind blew on my face. And I shuddered. I can't tell if it's from the wind or from what I had just experienced.
We both got into the cab that Jacob had called. I heard him give our address to the driver.
Even though I was tempted to ask, I chose to observe and wait. However, I continued to await his explanation. To help stop the shivering that was starting to get out of control, I sat down and pulled my coat closer to my body.
I looked out the window, watching the lights from the stores and the windows of the shops on the street as our cab sped by.
I allowed my tears to fall freely, but I fought the urge to say anything else. Without apologizing, I wiped my nose with the back of my hands after sniffling.
I was hurt, so I cried.
The people involved are two people that I trust and love and respect.
How can they treat me like this? However, Jacob's voice is still echoing in the back of my mind, telling me that “it is not as it appears. I will explain”.
Oh, I can't wait to hear that explanation. I am eager. Then perhaps it would make sense. That is that.
Memories of the first time I met Jacob.
The smile.
The way he introduced himself to me.
As a matter of fact, it was an accident, in a coffee shop. He had come to Snow Ridge for some work stuff. And we bumped into each other. I spilled my coffee on him.
And rather than becoming enraged or angry, I can still recall how I felt despite the fact he smiled to make it fun.
He was so charming and attractive. He looked so dashing. Despite the fact that I had discolored his white shirt, he spoke passionately.
I initially found it hard to understand how one person could be so upbeat in situations that did not seem like it.
But I insisted on getting him a new shirt in order not to delay his meeting. After insisting for a while, he accepted and we walked to the store next door to get him a shirt, we chatted, all the while and it felt like we had known each other for ages.
Our connection was instant and I felt he was my soulmate, my kind of man. But now, I am not so sure anymore.
I no longer see him as the same person after witnessing his involvement with Melinda. It is still unbelievable to me.
The cab came to a stop, and when we stepped out, the snow had started falling, and I could see the snowflakes forming layers and layers on the floor.
I walked mindlessly towards the door while he paid the cab driver.
As he fumbled with his keys trying to open the door, I opened my mouth and I asked, almost like a whisper, “Jacob, why?” Jacob turned around and looked at me squarely.
I was even more perplexed by the next sentence he said.
“Melinda is the new job I told you I got eight months ago”. "What?" I asked, no I screamed rather. Took a small step back. “What are you saying?”
"I mean exactly what you heard," he said, with irritation.
“My paycheck for the last eight months has been Melinda”. He repeated without hesitsation. I was left on the porch as he opened the door and entered.
After recovering myself, I pushed the door open and entered. “Melinda has been your paycheck, what do you mean?” I repeated my question. This time around making emphasis on the words as though it would change the answer.
Well, he turned and looked at me in my eyes and said, “I mean I have been f*****g Melinda for the past 8 months and getting paid for it”.
Forgetting our child's nanny was there. I yelled at him.
“How can you do that kind of a thing and then stand here telling me, Melinda is your paycheck?” I said mimicking his tone. “Have you lost your senses?” Jacob turned and walked towards me.
He screamed back in my face, “Do you know how hard it has been to get a job here?”
“Wait a minute”, he said. “Why am I explaining myself to you again? I don't owe you any explanation. I have lived up to my responsibility as a father to our child and as a husband to you”.
Therefore, I do not owe you any explanations. How I get money to take care of this house is none of your business.
Therefore, I am not explaining myself to you any further. Like I said earlier, seeing me with Melinda in that manner is not what it looks like. I am only doing it for the money, he said. He turned around and stormed into the bedroom.
The silence that came after the banging of the door of the bedroom, made me sigh deeply. I turned. Gracie stood there quietly by the door watching trying to make it look as unembarrassing as possible.
Another flood of tears came rushing down. She looked at me pathetically. I could see that she kind of understood what I was going through, but did not know what to tell me.
I looked at her, opened my purse, and paid her her money.
“Thank you”, I said to her.
She responded, “you're welcome. Ollie is sleeping in the room. He has had dinner and had a bath. Goodnight”, she said.
I walked to Ollie's room. I stood over him. He was sleeping so peacefully.
Ollie looked so peaceful, but my mind on the other hand was in chaos. A rollercoaster of different kinds of emotions.
The revelations that came this night. I could not take it. What does Jacob even mean? By saying Melinda is his paycheck.
That he f***s her for money. What is he now? What kind of a man even does that? And Melinda? I have no words for her.
I lightly kissed Ollie on his forehead, adjusted his blankets, and walked out of the room. When I walked into my bedroom, Jacob was already lying down on the bed, pretending to be asleep to prevent me from poking any further. I quietly took off my clothes as I walked into the bathroom. I allowed the warm water to run through my body from my head to my toes.
As I replayed all the events that had happened that night, I asked myself, “When did this start and how did everything change so fast?”
- Writer
