Beth, are you having an affair with Alex Pressman?
I could see her recoil as I mentioned his name. Doubt, concern and fear spread across her face but no denial.
Shit, I shouted. Her face and actions had given her away.
I wanted to scream at her only, only I had no voice. I wanted to hurt her, only I knew I could never intentionally hurt her. Anger surged through me and before I could respond, I realized I had slammed my glass down on the table - hard.
The sound of breaking glass shattered the moment between us and damaged my hand quite badly. The pain of my new wound surged through me dulling my broken heart. Acting on instinct, I rushed into the kitchen. Blood was everywhere. The cut was deep, and I knew I needed to halt the bleeding. Focusing on my hand I never saw my dutiful wife until she was beside me with the medical kit. The next couple of minutes were surreal as we worked together trying to slow the bleeding
This will help until we can get you to hospital. Her caring sweet voice betrayed the concern she was feeling. Love, warmth, comfort trying to cover up the ultimate betrayal. Looking at me, she clasped my good hand and tried to move it to her heart. Her eyes pleadingly gazing into mine.
The magic spell between us was broken as reality of what she had done surged through me. I felt my body recoil as her hand held mine. Her touch scared me. In that second, I realised what she had thrown away. Our future, our family...
I wanted to hurt her, I seriously wanted to hurt her.
Instinct, survival, autopilot I can't explain it, only I knew I had to get away from her. If she touched me again, if she tried to hold me again I couldn't answer for my actions. Before she could move, I was up and out of the door. I heard my name being called in desperation, but I was too fast as I left the house.
The bar I chose to obliterate myself in played old 80's songs on the juke box. I was on the third hour of solid drinking when Rob found me. Without saying a word, he simply pulled up a chair. Best friends, I could see him reading my mind. I knew he wanted to talk to me, however he quickly took in my drunken state and knew better. He simply ignored my requests to be left alone. He calmed down the barman, who was threatening to throw the sorry drunken excuse that I had become out. He ensured that I didn't make a fool of myself when an attractive woman was sat alone at the bar and he made sure that when I mercifully couldn't consume another drop that I got back to my apartment safely.
Rob tried in vain to persuade me to go home, only I had already arranged to stay in one of our work flats. My boss had experienced something similar himself and promised to help me. The flat, time off work and a good lawyer.
As I was poured into bed, Rob mentioned something about tomorrow. Being drunk had blunted the pain, but even in my sorry state I knew that my hand needed looking at. As if I might forget, he was going to leave a large note for me in the kitchen. Ten O'clock sharp I was being picked up and taken to the hospital.
Tomorrow, as he said when he left, would take care of itself.
Answers:
The first day of my new life didn't start of too well. My head was firmly lodged in a toilet as last night's endeavors decided to aggressively reappear. Hungover, heartbroken and alone. I knew at some point that I had cried myself to sleep. I was a broken man.
The doorbell brought me out of my reverie. I knew I couldn't hide forever; there was a world and more importantly my girls out there. Opening the door, I came face to face with my tormentor. She wore a simple blue dress with her hair tied back, it looked good on her. She looked tired but determined as she entered the apartment. Without giving me an option to speak or an attempt to throw her out, I'm here to take you to the hospital and then, we are going to have a talk!
There was a firmness, an edge to her that I have never noticed before. I wanted to explode and refuse her, but deep down I knew I couldn't run away from my problems indefinitely. Plus she was right! My hand hurt like hell and at some point, we would have to have the talk.
At the hospital, I was subject to the standard 'men are idiots' speech. The nurse took great pleasure in berating me for the delay in not coming to the hospital for nearly twenty-four hours. The fact I was probably still a little drunk didn't help my cause either. If I waited any longer I could have seriously damaged my hand. Blah, Blah, Blah. My wife and the female charge nurse together in unison. I was beginning to feel like a boxer, getting back up only to be knocked back down again. The pain medication they had given me was starting to wear off and my headache was returning, I had been subject to a verbal ear bashing by the nurse and now if I hadn't suffered enough, I was about to have my heart ripped apart again by discussing my wife's infidelity. I was seriously unsure how much more punishment a simple man like me could take. But, for all those with a positive outlook on life, I was sporting a bright yellow sticker on my cast saying - I WAS BRAVE.
She picked a small restaurant on the outskirts of town. Whether it was because no-one here knew us, or she thought that with us being so far out of town I had little choice but to sit down and listen to her, I wasn't sure.
As soon as our order had been taken she started.
Look, please hear me out before you say anything. Her voice nearly broke and I could see tears welling up in her eyes. This is going to be painful for both of us. She stopped as the waitress brought our drinks.
