PAYBACK IS A BITCH

ohol is your frie

nym

s trying to dislodge my shoulders. It took a few minutes for me to be coherent enough to realize that someone was

she do

uld still feel the lingering effects of the devil's brew I tossed back like a ma

expression, meaning she has been tr

I didn't know what to say or how to act, so I

not because I was angry at her, but because I couldn't stand th

ome," in exasperation, looking like she is having a face off with a five year

ed about something I di

as here? Did the bush

nd it dawned on her what I meant. She looked at me in disbelief and exclaimed, "Isla! Th

I couldn't figure out why my best friend thinks calling a man with a beard like a forest, Mr Bush, is rude.

me," I retorted as if th

ays pointedly as he make

had heard my comment, while my bes

Alcohol dries up her manners." Gloria glar

nd here is a fascinating woman. Too bad she is marrie

ould see the wheels spin in that rotten mind of hers. Gloria likes to joke around sometimes when we meet someone i

toni

t," I growl, shoo

glowing in her chocolate brown eyes, before

Did she not just

N

little," s

re at

o big and ma

it. "Don't you dare!" She knows h

tentionally pulling my legs. I am in the mood to s

some more?" I snapped, fed up with her antics. I used to have pa

ives it to me anyway I like," she flashes me a sly, sexy wink. "But yours is lanky, and from your cranky behaviour, he isn't g

down from the stool and stormed off. H

se. "What did I say wrong?" She demand

tolerated it because she was my best friend. So, it is shockin

s wrong." I mused inwardly, bu

g for something. Whatever she saw in my eye

She asked with a

e with such a kind and worried expression that it brought tears to my ey

d the te

o talk about it

ppointed, she respected my wishes. "I

onded softly, forgiv

indicating that she wants me to embrac

s. I might deny it to myself, but I n

ou," I w

come. Now, l

, and we turned

ice of the bartender rings o

ere," she instructed, like I was a dog, and like one, I obeyed. She

aid to ther way out th

an eye on you. Do you know what could have ha

drunk, something that is so unlike me. But she didn't, for which I was gra

ngs: for caring, for coming out to get me even though it

baby. You are my perso

her car, and she opened

ere until Billy comes to get it," Gl

rl around to look at her

ow what happened between you two, but if you leave your car out h

as a

n favour of saving my car. It is

ed off and woke only w

looked at

e said with a sof

nd got out

ers as we walk into my bedroom. Gloria has two boys who are in the same class as my so

said tiredly, f

ing to remove

umble, clos

" she offered, and I didn't argue

rs softly, "I hope you feel better

r in the morning. I wondered where Billy was and what he was doing. I felt his absence in our bed like an aching h

ce. I promised myself I wouldn't cry again, but

amiliarity to afflict our union, where we have taken

t girl reminded me how much I love

next, it was daylight, and the sun strea

squeezed in pain, I regretted waking up. It hurt so bad. And it is not just my heart that hurts, but my head. A hard l

leep because I felt too weak and tired to

dge my head from my neck, place it down somewhere, and when i

and a note on the bedside table. I pounced on the water and tablets and chugged them down. If science were magic, this drug would im

alcohol after this horrible experience. I don't

needed to get up and dressed before the kids came back.

ven today, when the walls feel like they are collapsing around me, I still put on makeup. My mother taugh

at that

to portray the appearance of

w I look because I effortlessly look good. I was blessed with good genes and pe

ve at home. Looking at me, you will never know that I have given birth to three kids. My waist is still the size six, like before pregnancy, a

y from the mirror, dejected and pained by the realization that de

tion. I walked to the table and picked it up. I flipped the double-folded white

e to make out individual words, but years of reading his notes and other misc

to say, but I was curious. I read

n we please talk? I don't want to lose you, and I am

ove

ll

with the word. It wasn't easy to believe he loves me in the light

alked to the bin in the

am not sure of the way forward. I am mad at him, so angry that I cou

ou divorce a man after

years, and I have to admit that I have

is one cru

pens to them if ou

trying to decide what I wanted. I stopped

his? Trea

e paper and re

breakfast

, Bi

than he has in the previous three years of our marriage. I opened the oven and glared at the well-prepared brea

n the gas, and if left alone in the k

is morning,

as annoyed at him for repeatedly t

I raised the bin with my feet and tilted my hand to pour the

when some are h

rave the satisfaction I will feel when Billy sees his effort wasted in the bi

dining room and settled down to demolish the delicacy Billy prepared. If he thi

I have ever been. I am one of thos

plate, but something inside me snapped. I turn

fying that I craved more. So, I opened the cupboard where

g the plates against the wall. As I smashed t

e, and when I finished, I was panting and

ss I had made. Instead of cleaning the mess like usual

I placed the bottle and glass beside the chair and returned inside. I went to the mini shelf and picked one of the cr

my wine is purely non alcoholic.

e up to the house. I pretended not to listen, but I heard him drive into the garage,

the house, but picked it up again

oat when I heard him in th

He cal

nore

in the bedroom before he

ared by the door. I pretended as if no one stood by the door and continued to read

e to admit that he looked as handsome as ever, and

e usual cock sure attitude was lacking. He looked uncertain, hesitant,

ge. Not only is he charming, but he exudes confidence like an animal scent, and his ou

But standing by the door is not Billy the Great, but a man who has erred

osition poured off him i

my action would worsen his anxiety, and it worked. He fidgeted with hi

re you

didn't care about what I was reading but was trying to li

s before I raise my eyes to meet his. "How to get