Chapter 3: Escape

'last night was the best night, ever! You truly are amazing in bed, babe', I read on Nick's phone coming from a girl named Cathy. I was shaking. I couldn't help myself but cry. He entered the room and found his phone on my hand. Angrily he said, "what are you doing with my phone?!! You don't know the word privacy!!?" "You dumbass!! You've been cheating on me this whole time? Who's Cathy? Huh?" we were arguing inside the room where my daughter was burst in tears. 

"I don't owe you an explanation. Cathy is nothing. She's just a friend!" "You dare to lie in front of me? After all I have been through because of you? You're such a loser". After hearing those words, he hit me so hard that I all I can remember is his mom entering our room and trying to stop him, taking my daughter away from us. 

I woke up the next morning feeling like shit. On my bed, as if my body has been buried. I saw my daughter playing alone. I feel so horrible. I wonder what I have done to experience such cruelty from my husband.

A week have passed,  Nick and I are no longer in good terms, we always end up fighting each other. One day, I decided to go home to Alberta, where my parents lived. It's a country side and far from Nick's family. I didn't tell them that I'll be going there as they won't allow me to take my daughter with me.

"Althea and I will be going for a mother-daughter bonding today", I told Nick. "what time you'll come back", he asked. "Maybe around 5pm, we'll just scroll around the mall". His mother heard our conversation and asked if she could come with us. "well, I will be meeting my friends from the hospital and they want to bring with me Althea, mom. It would be awkward if you would come along". "ok then, but be home a little early. 5pm is too much, and I will miss my granddaughter". She kissed Althea so hard, and a giggle came out from her. 

Nick drove us to the mall and hurriedly went on after he dropped us. I knew he will be meeting Cathy. She came from a wealthy family and Nick's parents approved of her. If Nick didn't rush our wedding, it would have been Cathy that they wanted to be his wife. I was too naive back then.

I went inside the mall, meet my friends whom I asked to help me. "Jess, you look horrible. It's not the same Jess that we used to know back in college anymore." "I know Liz, I don't feel good myself either. But help me Liz, I don't want to be like this anymore", as if I'm begging her for our lives. She cuddled Althea and we walked down to the parking lot. She would drive us home to Alberta.

"What happened between you two? You were so in love back then, everyone in class would envy you?" she asked while driving. "I don't know, Nick has changed. All of a sudden. Maybe the burden that he's getting from the responsibility. He's not the same anymore", I sobbed. Althea is on the car seat sleeping while Liz and I are talking our hearts out. Liz has been a good friend to me ever since. "He has drug problems, he's having an affair that his parents approved of, i was being battered all the time", i continued. "I don't know what to do Anymore Liz",I cried. She handed me the box of tissue. "Leave him for good, file a divorce", she said. "I love him Liz, I know that he still loves me, he's just confused!" "wake up girl!! Althea is growing so fast, you've been a punching bag for so long. How do you keep this up? You'll go to your parents now, and then what? After sometime you'll go back and be a battered wife again?" I am out of words, she's right. "what exactly is your plan for going home?" she asked. "I wanted him to feel my absence, maybe in that way he'll remember he needs me and that he would come and take me, that he would change? Maybe, just maybe". "oh Jess, that's a horrible plan. You know he will do that, but you also know he will not change. Wake up." I just let myself cried. She hold my hand as if she cannot say any words anymore. An hour have passed and we almost reach Alberta. Still a small place, laid back from the innovations that the world is on. I feel home. After a long time, I am home.

My father was shocked to see me, nevertheless he was happy as I brought with me Althea. "where is Nick?" he asked. "it's just me and althea." He immediately carried Althea to the house, excited as ever. Mom saw them and was estatic to see her. "Thanks Liz, I owe you one." "it's fine." "you know what," she added, "London has been pulling a lot of nurses lately, I will be applying for a job there, you should come with me, let's take the job together." I was not that enthusiastic to think of leaving my family behind and start a new life somewhere. "I'll think about it. You know.." "You need this girl, you can support your family and even file for a divorce, without a hassle, just think about it. I will go now, it's getting late. Please consider what I told you", she said while going back to the road.

I went inside the house and saw my parents very excited to play with Althea. "why only you visited now? Althea is much prettier in person than in videos you're sending me", mom said. I saw how hard they have been working lately to keep up with the bills at home and send my sister to school. I on the other hand, their only hope, was not able to fulfill my promise to them. I cried and my father saw me. He knew there was a problem already. He hugged me and I sobbed.