The Hurt We Keep

Annette was so excited. She couldn't wait to tell her husband the news. After three years, their prayers were finally being answered. She decided to take the rest of the day off. She just couldn't wait that long. Her husband worked from home, so she rushed to get there, crying tears of joy the whole way.   After unlocking the door, she rushed into the apartment, throwing her bag on the sofa on her way to her husband's office. She burst in. "Honey, I've…" He wasn't in there. She turned around, frowning. He must be in the bedroom. She quickly crossed the living room. As she entered the hallway, she heard noise coming from the bedroom. Noises that shouldn't be there. Moaning. A woman moaning. Maybe John was watching porn in the middle of the afternoon. As she neared the door, she heard clearly the sound their bed made when they made love. She shook her head, trying to convince herself that she was hearing things.   She reached her hand out slowly towards the door handle and grasped it. She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to see what was behind it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself.   She turned the handle slowly and quietly. She nudged the door open enough to see, then pushed it all the way open. There, in their bed, her husband was on his knees. A woman she had never seen before had one leg wrapped around his waist and the other slung over his shoulder. They hadn't noticed her yet. John kept muttering "f**k" over and over as he sped up. Suddenly he threw her leg off his shoulder and flipped her over. He gripped her hips before slamming back into her. She was sure to have bruises on her hips after this. Annette was shocked by what she was seeing. Not only the fact that her husband was currently betraying her, but also the fact that their s*x life had always been so… vanilla. She never knew her husband was into anything besides standard missionary lovemaking. The woman began to moan louder, and it was obvious she was having an orgasm. John began to thrust his hips so hard that the woman's head nearly smacked the headboard each time. After another minute, John finished. While still inside her, he leaned forward and trailed kisses across her back. John groaned before muttering, "God, I f*****g love you."   Annette gasped. John's head snapped around so fast you might think it would fall off.   "Annie, what are you doing here?"   "Last time I checked this was my home, that is my bed, and you are MY HUSBAND!" she screamed. Tears were streaming down her face. She never realized they had started to fall.   "John, what's going on?" the woman under him asked.   Annette was shocked at the woman's question. "Don't tell me that you didn't inform her that you are married. You just told the woman that you love her, but you don't love her enough to be honest with her? Or me, for that matter." She was so angry and hurt, she honestly didn't know what she wanted to do more, punch him or run away.   "Annie, it's not like that. I just…"   "Just what, John? Going to tell me it was an accident? A one-time thing? You'll never do it again? "   "Annie, just let me explain!"   The other woman kept looking between the two of them, unsure of what to do. "John, I think you need to get off me right now." John looks down at her, finally realizing the position they are still in. He pulls out of her and quickly grabs his pants from the floor.   "Don't know why you are bothering to cover up. You have already put your shame on display, and you didn't wear protection! I think I'm going to be sick. Do I need to get tested? How many women have you screwed without a condom?" Annette yelled.   "Annie, I'm telling you, it isn't like that. I didn't plan this, I just…fell in love with her. I can't control it."   The other woman rolled her eyes as she dressed herself. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you two, but it's obvious that I am the 'Other Woman'. I can't. I'm disgusted. With you and with myself. I should have known, there are signs everywhere that a woman lives here." She turned to Annette as she put her heels on. "Look, I'm so sorry. This was the only time I was here. We have been dating for a few months. I had no idea that he was married." She had tears in her eyes. She took something from her purse and handed it to Annette, it was her business card. She was a therapist. "I never would have, if I had known. I'm…I'm so sorry." She then turned to John. "Don't call me, don't come near me. I don't want to see you again…ever." With that she walked out.   Annette watched John's face as he processed the woman's words. He looked a bit upset, but hardly heartbroken.   "Get out, John.”   "What? You can't kick me out. This is my place too!"   "This apartment and furnishings were mine before we married. Property division laws are clear. Get out of my house. Now."   "Annie, please, we can talk about this!" He tried to move towards her, and she backed up. "Please, we can fix this!"   "No, we can't. After all, you 'fell in love' with someone else. Now that I have seen who you really are, you disgust me. I've supported you for years, emotionally and financially. You re-payed me with betrayal. I have nothing else to say to you except that my lawyer will be in touch regarding the divorce. If you do not leave, I will call the police and have you removed." Her face was unreadable, the tears had stopped some time ago.   "Fine! You'll regret it and call me as soon as you start to feel lonely. I know you Annie." He looked angry, like she was the one who had betrayed him. He grabbed a bag and threw some clothes in it, threw on a shirt and shoes and stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.   She slowly walked to the front door and locked it. After that she leaned on the wall and slowly slid down it, finally allowing herself to break down. Everything in her life for the past six years had been centered around John. Now it was over. There was no way she could forgive him. She cried for hours and eventually fell asleep right there on the floor.   She awoke to horrendous pain in her abdomen. She managed to call 911. They rushed her to the hospital. That night, she lost the baby she had been so excited for. In one day, she had lost everything. She was devastated.