6. Drowning in Alcohol

She had never driven so fast before. Thoughts rushed through her mind. Those pictures… He’d been cheating on her. She felt the tears coming in even more now. No. She would not cry. She did not come all this way only to crumble because of some bastard. She was above this. She would see the reason and logic behind this fucking situation. She would handle this like a mature person.

The tyres screeched as she reached her villa. She barged in anger, her tears on the verge of falling, “You fucking bastard! Where are you?!” 

A minute later, he came strolling down the stairs, a towel around his neck as he watched her in bewilderment. Cassandra marched up the remaining stairs towards him and he exclaimed, “Woah hun, what’s wrong?” 

She raised her hand and before she could slap him, he caught her wrist and stared at her in outrage, “Cassie?” 

The tears rolled down her cheeks now. She creased her fist and with her left hand she aggressively punched him on his jaw. He released her, letting out a cry of pain as he staggered back, “The fuck is wrong with you, goddammit!” 

She grabbed his shoulder, her nails digging in his skin, “Get. Out. Expect the divorce papers in a week, asshole.” 

He widened his eyes, “Wait…what?! Why?” 

She maintained her cool, crossing her arms as she unforgivably said, “You cheated.” 

He scowled, internally shaking at her revelation, “The fuck. It was long ago, Cassie. I swear.” 

She raised her hand, taking him aback as she slapped him so hard across his face that he lost his footing and fell, rolling down the stairs. “Fuck!” He cursed a long trail of words as he tried to get up, staring at the floor, feeling the aches all over.

She ran her hand in her hair, calming herself. What a bother. She coldly said, descending the steps to stand right beside him, “Get out or I’m calling the police for property trespassing.” 

He grabbed on her waist, raised his head and looked at her through burning eyes, “Don’t you dare. You have no fucking right to treat me like this! I’m your husband!” 

She was tempted to just kick him away right now but she couldn’t allow something like murder to ruin her career, “And this is my fucking house. Get the fuck out.” She moved away from him as he slowly stood again. He realized this was getting out of hand and he reasoned, “Wait…calm down…we can…we can talk about this. You know me, Cassie. You know how much I love you right?” 

She laughed at him, grabbing his arm as she shoved him towards the door, “You think blackmail works on me, Jason? I didn’t make it so far to have a fucking idiot bring me down like this. Look at me. Just look at me. You hurt me. The moment you did, all you became is irrelevant to me. I can stand on my feet. Can you?” 

“Where the fuck will I stay for God’s sake?!” 

“That’s not my problem.” She pushed him outside and he instantly brought his arms around himself, the wind blowing against his bare chest. He begged, “Let me pack first.” She arched an eyebrow, wondering if he was joking, “No.” 

She was about to close the door when he held the frame, threatening her, “You’ll regret this, Cassie. I swear you will.” She raised her chin, harshly saying, “You should be lucky I don’t fucking give a damn, you piece of shit.” She slammed the door, instantly bolting the two locks.

And once everything was silent again, she felt the throbbing in her head. She rested against the door, scooping her knees close to her chest as she leaned her head back. She massaged her temples, wanting to forget about just everything. Everything went on so fast. She believed that stranger, that… woman and didn’t even let Jason explain himself. Has she been too rash? 

She tsked, feeling exasperated. She saw the cold hard facts in that woman’s phone. She gathered herself, made her way to the living room and plopped down on the settee. She switched on the TV and began watching the evening news like she normally did. This would be distraction enough from this mess.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It wasn’t. She couldn’t really lie to herself, could she? She drove along the road, pulling over next to the closest bar. She paused. She might not have loved Jason or particularly care about him but something was bothering her. She couldn’t exactly place what though.

She stepped out of her car, seeing two drunk men sitting outside and cackling to themselves. The bar looked in ruin, like an old tavern. She walked inside and felt the warmth and the strong scent of alcohol. Yes, that was where she needed to be. Drunkards dancing to the slow music. Men playing poker in a corner as they watched strippers dancing. She needed a cut from reality.

She made her way to the bartender, sat there and the bearded man commented, “You look like shit, doc.” 

“Then you know what you have to do.” 

He roared with laughter as he prepared his strongest shots. As she sipped through her drinks, she watched the people dancing. Jason. Pfff. She was going to erase him from her mind. She never needed him. He had been more like a clingy little shit to her than anything else.

She could feel the alcohol slowly kicking in as the bartender kept refilling her shots. He put the whiskey bottle aside, pursed his lips as she drained them rapidly now, “Something wrong? Wanna talk to me?” 

“Just tired, pop. Just tired.” He groaned, patting her hand, “You work too much, sweetheart. Told you to give yourself a day off.” She tsked, looking towards the dance area.

Her eyes widened amidst the faint wooziness she felt. Was she seeing that woman again? She must be dreaming. Jason’s mistress was dancing to the lazy music with a ragged young man. It was clear that she was completely drunk. “Hey pop, who’s she? The blonde girl in jeans.” 

He observed the woman she mentioned and shrugged, wiping a glass with a white cloth, “Never seen her around here. Was already drunk when she came in. Rambled something about her boyfriend cheating on her.” “Yeah right.” Cassandra wanted to laugh as she gulped down a few more shots. She was the one who had been betrayed here. That woman didn’t deserve any sympathy. 

She pressed her hand against her forehead. Damn it. How could she be so blind? Jason was an asshole. And this woman…well, she was a bitch. His mistress. How dare she be here out of all the fucking places? She hated the sight of her. She didn't want to be here anymore. She angrily finished her drink, placed some banknotes beside the glasses and her father asked in surprise, “You’re already leaving, doc?” 

“Yeah. Sorry. Just wanted a drink.” She leaned across the bar, lightly kissing him on his cheek and he asked, “Not gonna meet your momma once?” 

“I have work tomorrow.” 

He grumbled disapprovingly, “Heartless girl. You sure you gonna make it? You can always stay, sweetheart.” She smiled, “I’m fine. Don’t worry.” He shook his head, gathering the small glasses, “Hmpf, be careful on the road, eh?” “Yeah, yeah.”

As she made her way out, trying not to let the dizziness consume her, she looked at the woman once again and saw the drunkard she was dancing with, groping her inappropriately. She shouldn’t care. She was about to leave when she saw her struggling against him, faintly muttering words about not touching her. 

To her annoyance, she realized that the people were too wasted to even notice. Cassandra sighed, walking to them. She clasped her hand around the man’s shoulder and irately said, shoving him off the girl, “Hey asshole, she’s with me.” 

He threatened her, wobbling in front of her, “Who the hell you’re calling asshole, bitch? You jealous? Won’t mind having a feel of you too.” 

Cassandra linked her arm firmly around the woman’s waist, drawing her gently away and Selena flung an arm around her shoulder, shrieking when the man started cursing loudly. Billy York whistled, barked some orders and three men stood from a corner and shouted, “Hey that sonofabitch is messing with the doctor.” In a matter of seconds, they grabbed the man and he was tossed out of the bar like vulgar trash.

Cassandra bit her lips as she dragged that woman behind the counter, reaching for the door leading to her parents’ house, “Thanks pop.” 

He laughed, “Anytime, honey.” 

Faintly aware of what the doctor did for her, Selena forced herself to look at her, “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t talk. You reek of alcohol.” 

She laughed, throwing her head back so suddenly that she tripped and slipped, bringing Cassandra down with her as they both fell down in a loud thump. Cassandra groaned in pain, barely registering what just happened. 

She inhaled sharply as the woman rolled on her, bringing her head down so close that it took her aback. Selena gazed at her, their faces inches apart, “No wonder he married you…” She briefly touched her lips with her finger and said, tears forming in her eyes, “You’re so beautiful and I don’t compare.”

Cassandra pushed her off her and heatedly spat, her heart thumping loud in her chest, “How dare you pretend that you had no idea that he was marr—” 

“Good lord! Cassandra! What are you doing on the floor, sweetie?” She looked up at the woman who just came running and sighed heavily, “Hi mom. Can you take care of her? She's wasted. I need to go back.” 

She gratefully took her mother’s hand to stand up, listening to the taunts that she knew was coming, “You stupid, very stupid girl.” She pulled her in her arms into a tight embrace and Cassandra returned the hug, admitting over her shoulder, patting her back gently, “I’m sorry. I should visit more…but I really have to go.” 

The woman caressed her hair fondly, pulling away, “Ay, you look terrible. Come eat something first. You’re getting thin. Who’s that gal anyway?” She watched in surprise as Selena was asleep on the wooden parquet. Oh bother.

She carefully slid her hand around the woman’s back and placed her other hand under her legs and she raised her up. She paused, feeling suddenly uncomfortable when Selena rubbed her head against her chest. Her mother grinned, “Cute couple.” She furiously looked at her, “Mom, I’m marr— goddammit. Forget it.” 

She walked in direction of her old bedroom and her mother opened the door for them. She gently placed her on the bed and instinctively pressed her hand against her forehead as Selena mumbled incoherently. She was burning. She frowned, “She has a mild fever. Make a compress for her and have her eat some soup when she wakes up.” 

“You sure you don’t know her, love?” 

She whispered, “I don’t and I think I’m hungry.” Her mother excitedly said, “Ooh, let me get a damp cloth for her and we’ll have dinner. I’ll call your pop.”

For five solid minutes, Cassandra sat beside her, not knowing what to think of her. She tsked, muttering under her breath, “Fuck you.” 

Selena weakly responded, raising her hand slowly to show her the middle finger, “Fuck you...too.” She opened her eyes, seeing blurry for a few seconds before they adjusted to the light. She gazed at her for a few seconds and she immediately turned her back to her, protesting, “You’re not willing to listen to me.” There she started again. 

Cassandra stood, “Can you blame me? I hate him and I hate you. You’re both free to do whatever the fuck you want now. You can fuck him all you want. There’s no need to hide anymore. I’m filing for divorce.” 

Selena creased the sheet under her fist and aggressively sat up, grabbing at her blouse and pulling her close, “How dare you think so lowly of me?! I’m as much a victim as you are.” 

Cassandra held her wrists tightly, making her loosen her grip. “Do not call me victim...” She pushed her back and stood straight, “…I refuse to be one. You can stay tonight but I want you gone the next morning.” 

Selena put her feet down right before hers, “Why won’t you just listen to me? I want to talk to you.” 

“Why, damn it?!” 

She stood, her chest brushing against hers as she held her waist, wanting her to understand, “Because I hate how all of this is making me feel! I hate it. I never knew he was—” 

There was a knock on the door and Cassandra’s mom came in, looking concerned, “Take the compress, love. I’ll just…um, prepare the soup.” 

Cassandra pushed her hands away from her, grabbed the damp cloth from her mother and muttered, “Don’t worry. Everything’s fine.” The latter looked at Selena for a moment before she nodded and walked away. 

Selena wiped the tears from her eyes and harshly said as she made the way to the door, “I don’t need your sympathy.” 

“This is not sympathy.” Cassandra seized her arm and slammed the warm cloth against her forehead, “You have fever and I’m a doctor. I can’t just ignore you despite everything you’ve done. Get on the bed now and rest.” 

“I did nothing wrong.” 

Cassandra rolled her eyes, gently tugging her towards the bed, “You destroyed a marriage. I blame Jason but I also blame you. You played your part as a mistress.” 

She yelled, “Don’t call me like that!” 

“That’s what you are.” 

Selena watched as she walked towards the door and asked, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, “Do you...do you have kids?” 

Cassandra grumbled, wondering why she should even care, “Two little boys and a girl.” She then warned, looking at her one last time, ignoring how shocked she was, “And not a word of all this to my parents. I don’t want you to contact me or them ever again. And if you do, I won’t be kind.” 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~