Thirty-Eight Divorces, One Betrayal
rns on my chest and neck slowly began
to visit,
for my check-ups, to help t
e crying, or screaming, or threatening to ju
my own phone
from
special chicken soup. He
of a steaming
her
night. He held my han
sleeping in a chair by her
date tonight to make
home because
bness. A picture. Ilene, her face tilted up, pressi
Her hand sliding
ned to stone, felt a sharp, crush
just deleted the m
d the paperwork myself. I took a cab
n the doorstep. Ethan was next to her,
than said before I could speak.
de. "This is Ethan's house, which mean
firm for once. "Ilene, no. This is my
sound. "If you don't let me in, I'll r
helpless
g by the gate. His eye
You'r
rmur. "She's just going to stay for a few days
lene, who was now glar
y voice was calm, de
ka
ocked. "You...
r smile touching my lips
e anymore. I was just a tempor
and marched into the h
he declared, wrinkling her nose.
"This couch is hideous, get rid of it
rtrait hanging in the living room. It was a
sharp finger, "is the ugliest o
oked uncerta
then gave a slight, defea
t. I had expecte
chest. I turned without a word
d make it easy for them. I wou
fill it with my things. Clothes, book
ragging the suitcase, the liv
iling face torn. My books were pulled from the shelves and thrown in a
lly built, so lovingly m
moment, just looki
e of it all, a smug, vic
ring around the room, "and you
. I was done
me, blocking my way. "Wher
e. She saw the dusty set of oil paints
you trying to show off how talented y
lence a wall she couldn't b
o move ar
rted with rage
and swung it at my head. I stumbled back, dodging the
d, off balanc
ds on my chest a
t the top of the
she screamed, her voic
. Then a sharp, violent impact as
a heap at the bottom, my head hitting
rm blood matting my ha
d, a series of v
ion bl
t was Ethan, running through the front d