Patricia
Nelly and I were lying on my bed, completely covered by the sheets, as we watched a children’s movie on my laptop. She was fully engrossed in the cartoon, while my mind was playing elsewhere.
I had still not called my mother and she had been calling a lot. I knew I’d have to talk to her soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it if she found out my infidelity and became disappointed in me. The door suddenly opened and we turned our attention to Ethan, who had obviously just returned from work.
“Daddy!” Nelly sang as she jumped of her bed and jumped into his embrace.
“How’s my cupcake doing?” He smiled as he poked her nose ruffled her hair.
“Great,” she giggled. “Mom and I are watching a movie. Do you want to join?”
Ethan looked at me as his smile faded. I simply stared at him, not expecting anything. He glan
PatriciaWe entered the house and my mother suddenly brought out a collection of books from a bag she was holding and handed them over to Nelly.“All these are for me?” she looked at them, wide-eyed.Mom smiled down at her. “Yes Lana.”Nelly frowned. “But what’s the occasion? My birthday has passed.”Mom chuckled. “There shouldn’t be a specific occasion for gifts.”“Thank you so much grandma and grandpa. You're the best!” she exclaimed. “Can I go to my room and read them right now?”“Sure thing.”Nelly turned to me with a big smile and then hurried away. My mother hadn’t given her the books for the fun of it. She was using it as a way to keep her busy, so she could have me all to herself, for a reason I wasn’t too sure about.“You’ve been avoiding our calls,” mom went straight to the point.I pushed my hair back and sighed, sitting down opposite them. “Please sit down.”I couldn’t even look a
Patricia“What?” I stared at my mother in disbelief. I was pleased she wasn’t interfering much, but this…? “Mom you can’t-”“You said you were ready to face the consequences, Pat,” dad reminded me. My heart sank. “This isn’t a punishment at all. It’s only what’s best for the child.”I shook my head. I wasn’t having it. “Ethan?”He didn’t look at me, but he was clearly pissed.I knew if they took Nelly, it was only going to be for a while, but at the moment, it felt like they were taking her away from me forever. My daughter was the only hope I had right now, the only person keeping me sane in this house. Being with her took my mind off all the issues. Being with her gave me a purpose. How was I going to live with this with her gone?“Look at it this way, my dear,” mom continued. “You already have knowledge of how smart she is. She’s already picking up the potholes in your relationship. Do you want her getting more depressed as she s
PatriciaHer eyes displayed surprise when she opened the door of her apartment. I kept my facial expression hard, eyes narrowed as I willed her to speak first. She gradually grew annoyed and glanced back into her house before looking back at me.“If you're here to create a scene, now’s not the time or place.” She folded her arms, as if to make her feel superior. “My husband’s at home.”“Create a scene?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “What would make you think that, if you feel you haven’t done anything wrong, Jessica?”Aggravated that she couldn’t give back a cheeky reply, she dropped her arms and asked, “What do you want?”“I should be asking you that. What do you want from me? I get that I hurt my husband, and somehow betrayed your trust, but we’re supposed to be best friends. Why would you do all this?”Her gaze shifted.
THIRD PERSONJessica leaned back on the door once she had shut it and heaved out a deep sigh. She chewed on her bottom lip, worried as she pondered over Patricia’s words. She shook her head, convincing herself.“She brought this on herself,” she muttered. “I only did the right thing.”“I’m guessing this is about Patricia.”She straightened up, startled by Charles’ voice.“Why are you so tensed up?” he asked as he wiped his hand with a napkin. He had just finished setting up the table for dinner.“It’s nothing.” She bypassed him and went to the dining table, resting her hands on the chair.“Patricia was here, wasn’t she?” he continued with the questions.Jessica closed her eyes, feeling absolutely confused and stressed.“I heard her voice so you can’t tell me otherwise.”“Let’
EthanMy scalp was hurting from my incessant hair pulling. I couldn’t tell what I was feeling, and trying to forget everything by drowning myself in work only worsened my devastated estate.I shut my laptop and turned to the framed wedding photo at the corner of my desk. I picked it up, tracing my fingers along the smooth glass, looking particularly at Patricia. She wasn’t looking into the camera. She was looking at me, with the biggest smile, and eyes filled with adoration. When was the last time she looked at me like that?I turned the photo down on its face and pushed my seat back as I stood up and exited the study.I entered the living room expecting to see her still seated in the sofa, but the place was empty. Somehow, I was relieved. I had a little more time to think before making a decision.A part of me wanted all this tension to end by just going ahead with a separation. Although it would strain my relationship with my
BryceThis was probably the third time this month my focus wavered during an executive meeting because of Patricia. My mind wasn’t letting me rest, and it was unsettling, because I didn’t know how long I could keep up with this. She was still hurting, and now I carried the blame for a part of her sorrow. It plagued me too, but it was necessary.The meeting ended before I could realise it and everyone left, leaving me alone in the conference room. I walked towards the glass walls that had now been turned transparent. Yes, I was hoping I’d see her for a bit, even if I couldn’t talk to her. She had been avoiding me for too long. I couldn’t stand it.Patricia had always been in my best interest. She was easily someone I could lay my life down for. After what her childhood had put her through, that was the least she deserved from anyone who claimed to care for her. I could proudly say I had always been there when she needed help
EthanValeria invited herself in and then shut the door behind her.“I’m not disturbing anything am I?” she asked, sitting down where Daniel was only a few seconds ago.I simply shook my head. “Is there anything I can help you with.”She shook her head. “Let’s forget about that for now. Something seems to be bothering you. We can talk about it. You don’t always have to be the one helping.”I frowned at her. “Excuse me?”She leaned forward and reached her arms over the table, enclosing my hand in hers. “I can tell you're having issues with your best friend. That’s what’s gotten you so worked up these days, isn’t it? Or is there something else? Whatever it is, we can talk about it. You’ve shown me a lot of kindness, so its only right that I reciprocate.”My heart started racing as I looked at her hands on mine. It was as if my
Patricia I tossed and turned on the bed, covering my entire body with the sheets to shield my eyes from the hostile rays of sun that seeped through the windows. Even with the one-month leave I had taken from work, I was still stressed with the weight of my conscience. Realising there was no way I was going back to sleep, I threw the sheets back and sat against the headboard. Ethan was obviously gone, since there was no trace of him in the room, and it was well past eight o’clock. So, I was the only one at home. After taking my bath, I went down the kitchen to prepare some tea for my breakfast, as I wasn’t feeling for anything solid. With there being nothing else to do, I decided to do a thorough clean-up in the kitchen, not because it needed rearrangement, but because I wanted to keep my mind off certain thoughts. That worked for only a while, because once I was done and seated in the living room, my mind began its daily torture. The television was on but I couldn’t register a
EthanValeria invited herself in and then shut the door behind her.“I’m not disturbing anything am I?” she asked, sitting down where Daniel was only a few seconds ago.I simply shook my head. “Is there anything I can help you with.”She shook her head. “Let’s forget about that for now. Something seems to be bothering you. We can talk about it. You don’t always have to be the one helping.”I frowned at her. “Excuse me?”She leaned forward and reached her arms over the table, enclosing my hand in hers. “I can tell you're having issues with your best friend. That’s what’s gotten you so worked up these days, isn’t it? Or is there something else? Whatever it is, we can talk about it. You’ve shown me a lot of kindness, so its only right that I reciprocate.”My heart started racing as I looked at her hands on mine. It was as if my
BryceThis was probably the third time this month my focus wavered during an executive meeting because of Patricia. My mind wasn’t letting me rest, and it was unsettling, because I didn’t know how long I could keep up with this. She was still hurting, and now I carried the blame for a part of her sorrow. It plagued me too, but it was necessary.The meeting ended before I could realise it and everyone left, leaving me alone in the conference room. I walked towards the glass walls that had now been turned transparent. Yes, I was hoping I’d see her for a bit, even if I couldn’t talk to her. She had been avoiding me for too long. I couldn’t stand it.Patricia had always been in my best interest. She was easily someone I could lay my life down for. After what her childhood had put her through, that was the least she deserved from anyone who claimed to care for her. I could proudly say I had always been there when she needed help
EthanMy scalp was hurting from my incessant hair pulling. I couldn’t tell what I was feeling, and trying to forget everything by drowning myself in work only worsened my devastated estate.I shut my laptop and turned to the framed wedding photo at the corner of my desk. I picked it up, tracing my fingers along the smooth glass, looking particularly at Patricia. She wasn’t looking into the camera. She was looking at me, with the biggest smile, and eyes filled with adoration. When was the last time she looked at me like that?I turned the photo down on its face and pushed my seat back as I stood up and exited the study.I entered the living room expecting to see her still seated in the sofa, but the place was empty. Somehow, I was relieved. I had a little more time to think before making a decision.A part of me wanted all this tension to end by just going ahead with a separation. Although it would strain my relationship with my
THIRD PERSONJessica leaned back on the door once she had shut it and heaved out a deep sigh. She chewed on her bottom lip, worried as she pondered over Patricia’s words. She shook her head, convincing herself.“She brought this on herself,” she muttered. “I only did the right thing.”“I’m guessing this is about Patricia.”She straightened up, startled by Charles’ voice.“Why are you so tensed up?” he asked as he wiped his hand with a napkin. He had just finished setting up the table for dinner.“It’s nothing.” She bypassed him and went to the dining table, resting her hands on the chair.“Patricia was here, wasn’t she?” he continued with the questions.Jessica closed her eyes, feeling absolutely confused and stressed.“I heard her voice so you can’t tell me otherwise.”“Let’
PatriciaHer eyes displayed surprise when she opened the door of her apartment. I kept my facial expression hard, eyes narrowed as I willed her to speak first. She gradually grew annoyed and glanced back into her house before looking back at me.“If you're here to create a scene, now’s not the time or place.” She folded her arms, as if to make her feel superior. “My husband’s at home.”“Create a scene?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “What would make you think that, if you feel you haven’t done anything wrong, Jessica?”Aggravated that she couldn’t give back a cheeky reply, she dropped her arms and asked, “What do you want?”“I should be asking you that. What do you want from me? I get that I hurt my husband, and somehow betrayed your trust, but we’re supposed to be best friends. Why would you do all this?”Her gaze shifted.
Patricia“What?” I stared at my mother in disbelief. I was pleased she wasn’t interfering much, but this…? “Mom you can’t-”“You said you were ready to face the consequences, Pat,” dad reminded me. My heart sank. “This isn’t a punishment at all. It’s only what’s best for the child.”I shook my head. I wasn’t having it. “Ethan?”He didn’t look at me, but he was clearly pissed.I knew if they took Nelly, it was only going to be for a while, but at the moment, it felt like they were taking her away from me forever. My daughter was the only hope I had right now, the only person keeping me sane in this house. Being with her took my mind off all the issues. Being with her gave me a purpose. How was I going to live with this with her gone?“Look at it this way, my dear,” mom continued. “You already have knowledge of how smart she is. She’s already picking up the potholes in your relationship. Do you want her getting more depressed as she s
PatriciaWe entered the house and my mother suddenly brought out a collection of books from a bag she was holding and handed them over to Nelly.“All these are for me?” she looked at them, wide-eyed.Mom smiled down at her. “Yes Lana.”Nelly frowned. “But what’s the occasion? My birthday has passed.”Mom chuckled. “There shouldn’t be a specific occasion for gifts.”“Thank you so much grandma and grandpa. You're the best!” she exclaimed. “Can I go to my room and read them right now?”“Sure thing.”Nelly turned to me with a big smile and then hurried away. My mother hadn’t given her the books for the fun of it. She was using it as a way to keep her busy, so she could have me all to herself, for a reason I wasn’t too sure about.“You’ve been avoiding our calls,” mom went straight to the point.I pushed my hair back and sighed, sitting down opposite them. “Please sit down.”I couldn’t even look a
PatriciaNelly and I were lying on my bed, completely covered by the sheets, as we watched a children’s movie on my laptop. She was fully engrossed in the cartoon, while my mind was playing elsewhere.I had still not called my mother and she had been calling a lot. I knew I’d have to talk to her soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it if she found out my infidelity and became disappointed in me. The door suddenly opened and we turned our attention to Ethan, who had obviously just returned from work.“Daddy!” Nelly sang as she jumped of her bed and jumped into his embrace.“How’s my cupcake doing?” He smiled as he poked her nose ruffled her hair.“Great,” she giggled. “Mom and I are watching a movie. Do you want to join?”Ethan looked at me as his smile faded. I simply stared at him, not expecting anything. He glan
PatriciaNelly and I were lying on my bed, completely covered by the sheets, as we watched a children’s movie on my laptop. She was fully engrossed in the cartoon, while my mind was playing elsewhere.I had still not called my mother and she had been calling a lot. I knew I’d have to talk to her soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it if she found out my infidelity and became disappointed in me. The door suddenly opened and we turned our attention to Ethan, who had obviously just returned from work.“Daddy!” Nelly sang as she jumped of her bed and jumped into his embrace.“How’s my cupcake doing?” He smiled as he poked her nose ruffled her hair.“Great,” she giggled. “Mom and I are watching a movie. Do you want to join?”Ethan looked at me as his smile faded. I simply stared at him, not expecting anything. He glan