It was Saturday night. I sat on the couch restlessly flipping through the channels on the television with the remote. I was being pathetic, I knew. It was my first weekend in over four years as a single woman, and here I was spending it in a pair of sweats with nothing to keep me company but my dog, Roscoe.
I sat back and thought about the events that had led me to this point. It had been almost a week already since I had walked in from work to find my boyfriend in my house, in my bed, with his dick all up in some bitch’s pussy. Needless to say, I threw their sorry asses out. He’s been calling constantly trying to explain himself ever since. I’m not trying to hear him though. There is no explanation for what I saw.
The ringing of the telephone brought me out of my thoughts. A quick check of the caller ID confirmed what I already figured. It was Clarence calling yet again.
It was as if Clarence’s call was all the motivation I needed to get up off of the couch. I needed to get out of the house. I had been sulking and wallowing in my hurt long enough. And there was no way I was going to sit around the house and listen to the phone ring half the night. Besides, despite everything he had done to me, I still loved Clarence and I missed him terribly. I could feel myself growing weak. If I sat around this empty house with nothing to do much longer I knew I’d pick up the phone and break my silence.
An hour later I stood in front of my full length mirror admiring the reflection that stared back. Clarence didn’t know what he was missing tonight. I wore a short red dress that accentuated my long legs and complimented my caramel colored skin.
I found myself at this reggae club on the north side of town the city that a few of my girlfriends had been telling me about for some time. I’m not used to going out alone, so I wasn’t all that comfortable despite the inviting atmosphere. I headed over to the bar figuring a drink or two would ease my discomfort. I found a seat at the bar where I could watch all the action while I sipped my rum and coke. Even though it was only a little after eleven the club was filling up fast. The already crowded dance floor was becoming more crowded by the second.
I noticed him right away. There was just something about him that made him stand out from the crowd. He was tall, probably about 6’3” or 6’4” with smooth dark skin, hazel eyes, and lips that begged to be kissed. I watched him for a while, both hoping he hadn’t come with a date and that he wouldn’t notice my stare.
I watched him so intently that I didn’t even notice Clarence come in. I was still watching my mystery man when I noticed him look my way. I quickly glanced away and that’s when I saw Clarence and some hootchie so close up on each other on the dance floor that they might as well have been fucking.
Just the sight of Clarence infuriated me and I turned to pay my tab and leave. There was just no way I was going to sit around and watch yet another freak show.
“You aren’t leaving yet, are you?” I turned back around to find myself face to face with my mystery man.
“I, um,” I didn’t know exactly what to say. I needed to get away from Clarence and that bitch, yet I was intrigued by the man standing before me.
“I’ve been watching you since you walked in here,” he said, “It would be a shame for me to let you leave without even asking you for a dance.”
Against my better judgment, I agreed to one dance. I allowed my mystery man (whose name turned out to be Sean) to lead me to the dance floor. Maybe it was the alcohol, but suddenly I felt great—better than I have in a long time. All the stress I had been feeling melted away with my every move. Soon there was just me, Sean, and the music.
And then there was Clarence.
“Just what do you think you’re doing out here shaking your half-dressed ass with some stranger?” Clarence grabbed my arm and dragged me away.
“I think I’m moving on with my life,” I hissed, snatching my arm away, “You should think about doing the same.”
“Sydney, baby, don’t do this to us,” Clarence said, “I miss you.”
“You miss me. Don’t do this to us,” I mocked, “Maybe you should have thought about what it would do to us before you brought that stank hoe into my house and fucked her in my bed.”
“It was a one time thing, Sydney. I swear,” he said, “She didn’t mean a thing to me.”
