RUNNING FROM MY HUSBAND

ONE

I waved to the club's bouncer as I left the club. It was freezing outside and my car was out to be repaired. It was late and I doubted if I could find any means of transport, guess I'm walking I thought with a sigh. Thankfully I don’t live that far from here. I was casually walking, my hands wrapped around me trying to make myself warm. I didn't live in a good neighborhood, it was shitty and there were homeless people everywhere. I kept walking looking around, then I heard a pair of footsteps behind me. I reached down for the pepper spray in my bag as I increased my walking pace. As sudden as the footsteps started they were gone. I sighed, I may be imagining things due to my exhaustion. I turned around to make sure, there was no one in the streets. I kept walking, “Hello beautiful.” I heard someone say from the shadows ahead of me. I tightened my grip on my pepper spray ready to tackle whoever it was.

I didn't stop I kept walking now faster than before and he came running towards me. I also ran then I felt him grab my hand, I turned around and pepper sprayed him as I screamed, “Love! Love! It's me Oscar.” The man shouted.

“Oscar? Oscar! What the hell are you doing following me in the dark?” I shouted.

“This is the only way to get you to talk to me.”

“No, it's not. Following me home from work, in the middle of the night is not the way to get me to talk to you.” I shouted as I breathed heavily partially glad it was him but also annoyed as hell.

“What the hell did you spray me with I can't see.” He complained as he vigorously rubbed his eyes.

I sighed, “that's what you get for scaring the s**t out of me. Follow me. I'll help you get your sight back.” I said as I began walking leaving him behind.

“I'd like to follow you but I can't see. You'll have to help me.” He shouted.

I sighed, just what I needed, some big baby to take care of when I came off from work dealing with drunk sleazy people. I went back and helped him get to my house. I placed him on the couch as I went to get some water and a towel to clean off the pepper spray.

“What was so important you had to talk to me about it in the middle of the night?” I asked as I sat down to help him out.

“Love I know that I have not been the best boyfriend but I promise to change for the better.” He said. Not this again.

“Oscar, we have been through this a million times. You come to me claiming how you'll change for the better, like the fool I am, I believe you, let you move back in with me then comes the drugs and the cheating. I'm not going to play this game with you again.”

“But Love...” He started to complain, knowing he was about to lie his ass off I cut him off.

“Don't but Love me. I already kicked you out and you're going to stay out.” I said as I finished cleaning up the pepper spray off his eyes.

“Now that you can see again. See yourself out.” I said pointing to the door.

“But I have nowhere to go.”

“Not my problem Oscar. I want you to leave right now.” I said pointing to the door. He was about to speak when I sighed, “Oscar I have to get to my other job in the morning I don't have time to listen to your tantrums.”

He stood up and slowly walked to the door, “Love come on. You know we love each other.”

“Loved Oscar. Past tense. Now goodbye.” I said as I shut the door on his face and locked it. I was exhausted and I could really use some good night sleep I thought as I walked to the bathroom massaging my neck. I took a shower, warmed up some of my leftover food and then went to bed. Tomorrow is another long day.

I was woken up with someone calling me. “Hello.” I answered groggily.

“Good morning dear.”

“Grandpa. It's so early in the morning, is there something wrong?”

“Must there be something wrong for me to call you up?” He asked and I could hear from his voice that he took offense to my question.

“That's not what I meant grandpa.”

“Anyways, I haven't seen you in almost a week and Thanksgiving is coming up. I was hoping you'd drop by and we could have dinner like we used to?”

“Yes of course. I was planning on coming.” I said.

“Okay then. I'll prepare everything all you have to do is come with an empty stomach.”

I chuckled, “okay then. See you then.” I said.

“Have a good day at work.” He said then hanged up.

Finally, I could sleep some more before I have to get up and go to work I thought as I covered myself. Just as I closed my heavy eyes, my alarm came blaring. Or not I thought as I switched off the alarm. I need to quit one job. It's not like I'm in desperate need of the money.

I went to get ready, got dressed and went to get breakfast. I need to do some shopping I thought as I shut my refrigerator. I'll have breakfast at work. I took my keys and bag then left for work.

“Finally, you're here. Help me out with this,” Casey, my coworker and friend, said handing me a plate of pancakes with bacon on the side.

“I'm sorry I'm late. I had to deal with Oscar yesterday night and then my grandfather today morning.” I said with a sigh as I placed the plate in front of the customer offering her a small smile.

“Your ex Oscar?” Casey asked.

“Yes, that bum.”

“You're not thinking of taking him back, are you?” Casey asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No, I'm not. I could have dealt with him being lazy and letting me support him or even the mess he made in my house but I refuse to deal with a drug addict.”

Casey chuckled, “well you can deal with a lot of things.” She said as we walked to the kitchen, “I can't deal with a lazy and messy guy like Oscar.”

“Well you are a very picky person.” I said as we took the orders back to the customers.

My second job was working for a diner. It didn't pay much but Casey refused to let me quit saying she's not going to manage having to work there alone or with some stranger. That's why I'm still working here though my other job at the club pays me three times my salary here not including the tips.

“Speaking of being picky, Rita the former waitress here hooked me up with this guy but I don't think I'll be able to go out with him.” Casey said.

“Why not? Is he not jacked enough for you or he's not tall enough for you?” I asked chuckling.

“No that's not it. He’s actually really good looking and so jacked.” She said chuckling, “It's just I'm going out with this other guy that I like so much.”

“I didn't know you're dating someone now. What's he like? Do I even want to know? Because you change guys like clothes.”

“And that's exactly why I didn't tell you. I knew you'd think the worst of him.” Casey complained.

I'm not the one who thinks the worst of them rather you don't stay long enough with them for me to even get to meet them. You always find something wrong with them and dump them after one or two dates.” I explained.

“We were not talking about my relationship rather the guy I want to hook you up with.” Casey said excitedly.

“Oh no I'm not doing this with you again. I thought I made it clear I don’t do blind dates.” I said as I walked out to clean the tables outside. But she followed me.

“Not doing what Love? It’s not a blind date. I’ll show you a picture of him. This is a nice guy for you I promise.”

“How would you know what kind of guy I like?”

She chuckled, “considering you claimed to love Oscar and stayed with him for almost a year. I doubt you could do any worse than that.”

“I don't want a date right now. I'm focusing on getting my life back on track.”

“How do you plan on doing that?” Casey asked.

“I've saved enough money. I'm thinking of selling my things and moving in back with my grandpa and maybe going back to school fulltime.” I said thinking about how I had to drop out because I could no longer pay tuition fees.

“But your grandfather lives on the other side of town. That would mean you would quit here too?” Casey asked.

“I don't know yet it was just a thought.” I said taking the dirty dishes back to the kitchen.

“Just go out with him it's just one date. If you don't like him you don't have to go on a second one.” Casey said trying to convince me.

“Okay fine. Just one date.” I said giving in knowing she would not stop pestering me the whole day.

“Don't worry you won't regret I've seen his picture. He is hot as hell.” She said.

I didn't bother to push for more information. Maybe it was time I put myself out there.