Acts of Desperation Read Free

struggled to restrain myself from launching at his throat.
    Their heads snapped up , and John instantly disengaged.
    “Sember,” he said, grabbing his shirt to cover his glistening penis. Then he step ped in front of her naked body—a gesture to preserve her dignity—and I choked back a laugh. The woman quickly ducked behind the couch and grabbed for her clothes. She dressed quickly, throwing her wrinkled sweater over her head and zipped into her snug casual black slacks. Her bra dangled from her wrist as she grabbed her shoes.
    “I thought you said she wouldn’t be home,” she whispered to John. But, he only gave her a confused look. So, she grabbed the rest of her things and edged her way past me then scurried out the door. I listened as her bare feet slapped the pavement outside.
    John stood with his mouth open; I assumed trying to come up with the right words. Finally, he said, “It’s not what it looks like.”
    I actually laughed . Truly. His career was built on coming up with tag lines on the spot, and that was the best he could produce. I always assumed he was successful and great at advertising, but maybe the stress he’d been experiencing at work was justified.
    “Look…I didn’t think you’d be home this early,” he said.
    I took a deep breath and gathered my composure. “You didn’t think I’d be home this early? Did you just say that? I’m sorry, I must have heard you wrong.” I waited for a response while he threw on his crumpled clothes, but he said nothing. “How about I’m sorry? That’s where I’d start if I were you.”
    He sat on the couch and groaned. “It didn’t mean anything. She works for the account we’re trying to win. I had to do it.”
    “You had to have sex with another woman?” I stared in disbelief.
    “I knew you wouldn’t understand,” he said , shaking his head.
    Any words I could have said, planted themselves firmly in my throat. I felt like I was in a trance , watching someone else’s life. My feelings were all over the place: rage, regret, fury, and despair. Each one simultaneously meshed together then separated; it was overwhelming. I silently turned and walked to our bedroom with him following closely behind.
    “Leave me alone,” I said. “You should go.”
    “What?” he said.
    I walked past him and reached into the closet. “Here. Take your suitcase, put some of your stuff in here, and get out. I’m going to pack up all my things. I don’t need you hovering over me.” I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I envisioned breaking into a full sprint, running for my car, escaping the madness and misery, but once I was gone, I never wanted to come back to this place. So, I kept my cool. I said, “This is your condo, not mine. You live here, and I don’t anymore.”
    He only crossed his arms and stood motionless. I threw his suitcase on the bed and started grabbing random things off the floor. Tears filled my eyes as he watched, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I grabbed his laundry basket, dumped it into his suitcase, zipped it up and thrust it at him.
    “Here! Call your girlfriend. Maybe you can stay with her for a while.”
    “Sember, don’t you think you’re overreacting a little. Come on,” he said with a sigh.
    “I have absolutely nothing to say to you. Get. Out!”
    “You know what—fine! You obviously need some time to cool off, but this isn’t over,” he said, arrogantly tossing his head back. He casually slipped on his shoes and walked out the door. As soon as the door clicked, I fell to my knees and began sobbing.

Chapter Three
     
    I stayed on my knees until I caught my breath, but I didn’t want to linger any longer than necessary and risk John coming back. I needed to call my rock, and the one person I could count on no matter what. We’d known each other since we were fifteen, and she’d know the right things to say. I dialed her number, and thankfully she picked up after the first