Episode 2. Is It Over?

I glanced up and saw the taxi driver looking at me in the back seat in the rearview mirror. Granted, I was mumbling under my breath with my eyes closed.

"Ms., are you okay?" The taxi driver asked me.

'I should have never come out tonight.' I thought before replying. "But I'm fine, Sir, thanks for asking."

The car thumps hard! My eyes pop open as I shout out loud. "What was that?!"

I sat up straight. It felt like my already broken heart slammed against my ribs. The taxi driver tells me he had to swerve to avoid hitting a deer, who leaped out in front of the car only a few feet ahead. My purse slid off the seat and onto the floor violently, spilling its contents. Bending over, I retrieved my cell phone, wallet, passport, and a pack of mints.

It was plausible that a deer ran out in front of the car. You see, our house is thirty minutes outside of the city limits. Our home was in a lovely area called "Deer Park Estates." I always see Deer grazing on the outskirts of my gardens.

"Are you alright back there, Ms.?" the driver asked over his shoulder.

I exhaled audibly. "I'm good," I lied smoothly. I wasn't good. It would be some time before I could adjust my heart to something that feels normal again after tonight.

I sat back in the cab's rear, nursing my aching heart. I closed my eyes again. All I wanted to do was talk to my friend and sleep away the rest of this awful night. About fifteen minutes later, the taxi arrived at my home. It appeared I'd fallen asleep when the car's motion stopped, and I opened my eyes.

I sighed, gathering my shawl and purse. I paid the fare to the taxi driver and stepped out of the cab. I opened the front door to the house and stood in the foyer, looking as I closed the door and leaning against it as I stood in the entryway. The sigh of sadness parted my lips. I felt wetness on my cheek as tears fell from the skin around my eyes.

I walked into the house with my 6-inch heels straight to the main bedroom. I pulled out my phone and called my friend Olivia. It was midnight.

"Zari! Is everything okay?"

"Yes, physically, I'm okay. I didn't have an accident or anything. I'm just getting home from that party I told you about."

"Sorry, I couldn't make it." 

"I understand the baby wasn't feeling well."

 "How was the party? I know you were looking hot. What did Devon say when he saw you in that dress?!"

I burst out crying. "It was devastating, Olivia. I can't do this any longer. This marriage was a mistake."

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry. What happened?"

"Olivia, it was so humiliating. He asked me for a Divorce. It was a divorce party! Olivia." I said through tears.

"What?! He did what?!" Zari's friend asked in a shocked tone.

"It, it, it was so humiliating. I'll explain it all to you later. Right now, I just need somewhere to stay. Is it okay to come by you and Greg until I figure out my next move?"

"Ah, my poor baby. You work so hard, Zari. You don't deserve to be hurt like this. Why does Devon do such insane things? He is so thoughtless. Yes. Come visit me."

"I don't want to be here anymore, Olivia. Or I'll go insane for real."

"Well, I can't tell you what to do. Every marriage is so different. You said the other day when I talked to you that you saw a glimmer of hope. Look, sweetie, come and get some rest, and I promise you, it'll be better tomorrow. You and Devon need time to find one another. Have you had a real talk with him about how you feel?"

I sighed heavily. "No, Devon is spoiled and jealous-hearted, and he tries to twist everything I say and do as if I'm the one causing the problems in this marriage! When it's him! I thought before tonight. We might have had a chance at happiness. But now, Olivia, I think he hates me as much as his parents."

"Oh dear, I know how much you and Devon once loved each other. Don't make any rash decisions that you will regret later. If you want to come and stay with me, you can. I'll be waiting for you. I love you, Zari."

"I love you too, Olivia. Thank you." 

I sat on the bed and removed my heels from my tired feet. 'What was I thinking? If he wants Susie, then he can have her! I have to leave. Teeth clenched, battling tears and anger, I threw an armload of clothes into one of the suitcases. I promised myself I wasn't going to cry. Tears. Didn't help. They had never helped in the past. "God, how naive and very wrong I'd been. I was wrong to believe Susie was just his friend and all the insults and attitudes I put up with because I let myself be fooled. And now I've spent two of the three years of my life being miserable. 

I couldn't stop thinking about my pain and embarrassment. "If a divorce is what he wants, I will give it to him!"

"Tomorrow, I'm heading out of here. I don't have to stay here and be humiliated this way!"

Devon opened the bedroom door. "Running away?" 

"Seems like the thing to do." I shrugged, turning my back to him. I didn't dare let him get the satisfaction of seeing my vulnerability. It was bad enough the many ways he could unknowingly hurt me. As I laid the stack of clothes, I'd prepared them neatly into the other suitcase. 

"Zari, let me explain. Why things happened the way they did tonight."

I snorted, pushing back the thick, wavy fall of my hair that slid over my shoulder as I continued to pack. "I'm done, Devon. You be happy with Susie, and I hope you treat her better than you've treated me." 

I picked up my suitcase, keeping my back to him. If he ever learned how weak I was, the deliberate jabs he could inflict would destroy me. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I stop myself from wanting him? Knowing he had another woman in his life and how deeply his family disapproved of me and this stunt he pulled tonight, I had it up to my neck! I took and rolled my suitcase to the front door. I'm getting out of here tonight! I can't stay in this house with this man another night!

"So, you're going to leave me after all I've done for you and after all we've gone through! I should have expected this out of you. It's about the most ungrateful and selfish act you could pull right now." He growled behind me in a mildly agitated tone.

Turning on my heels, I flashed him a wide-eyed look of surprise. The things that come out of my husband's mouth never cease to amaze me. Good or bad.

"It's interesting, Devon Hightower, how you always manage to turn yourself into the victim! There is no way my one little dance last month with Michael could compare to all the hurt and pain you have caused me these last two years! The nerve of you! Devon, I'd just love to stick around and try to see all this from your demented point of view, sugar," I assured him with brittle amusement.

"But I just can't get my head that far up your behind! I'll just concede this little battle and pronounce you the ultimate winner! Now get out of my way!"

I pushed past him and slammed the door! I wanted freedom, but you will not believe what happened next in my quest to be free!