My name is Diane, and this is the story of the collapse of my life. I like to think I have something to look forward to but I don't. So if you are into the happy ever after thing then you should look somewhere else. Still you might find this interesting all the same? So I shall begin with the events that triggered this tragic story off.
I stood waiting in the hall with my bags packed, just 2 suitcases after 3 years of marriage. Well I was the one running away. My smile dropped when the door opened. There stood my mother in law.
"So it's true you little slut!"
Her vicious words were still echoing round my head as the slap to my face landed. I fell back on the stairs clutching my burning cheek. I looked behind her and saw my boyfriend coming up the path.
"Please just let me go Maureen," I sobbed.
I picked up my bags trying not to look at her. But I could feel the hatred from her eyes burning like acid on my skin.
"Wait, Diane I have to tell you something," Gary said nervously.
"Well go on spit it out man!" Maureen boomed.
He looked as scared as I felt. Slowly I let my bags slip to the floor.
"Faye and I, well we, I," he stammered.
"Come on you little weasel, I can't wait to hear this," Maureen said, as she folded her arms.
I think she had the same thought as me, I just didn't want to hear it. Why was he letting me down again! I shook my head slowly in disbelief, and my eyes started to fill with water.
"We are going to try again," he said, almost choking on his words.
I watched Maureen close the door in his face. She looked down at my suitcases with a sick grin.
"So who are you going to run to now Diane?"
I sat at the kitchen table sobbing into my cup. Maureen strutted around telling me how she never liked me, and how her son was too good for me. I just sat there taking it all, unable to think of one reason to defend myself with. She went to let Sammy in from the back garden. He was my husband's dog, a golden retriever. I just watched her stroke Sammy that dog was always higher than me in the order of things. I didn't hate Sammy I just didn't want a dog. But she had got it for Nigel's birthday two years ago. Even that was against my wishes.
"So what are you going to do now then?"
I couldn't answer because I didn't know. She was deliberately baiting me like she did from time to time. I bet she couldn't believe her luck, she must have been thinking of all the spiteful things she could say, but she was keeping them to herself. I looked at my watch.
"Don't worry, Nigel has gone straight home, that is his real home where people love him."
I couldn't even say I loved him. I couldn't respond to that. Finally I made myself speak.
"I will leave, he can come here."
"Oh I don't think so, he's better off with me away," she spat.
"Then I'll just leave," I said, wiping a tear away.
"No you don't you have to stay and look after Sammy until Nigel sells the house."
She began petting and talking to Sammy getting him all excited.
"He needs to go for a walk; I suggest you think long and hard about what you have done to my family when you are out."
I picked up the dog lead thankful for the opportunity to get away from her.
2 months later I was still there on my own. Nigel was paying the mortgage and giving me enough money to look after Sammy. I tried several times to talk to Nigel I even phoned him at work. All I got was answer phones, and messages to stop calling him. I began going out with my friends every Saturday night, just to get back in the swing of things. I had little hope that Nigel and I would get back together. So I started enjoying myself a little, with the men who came onto me. It took my mind off of everything. I knew what the men were after; buying me a few drinks was all it took to get a fuck. I would go back to flats and houses with men I had no intention of seeing again, and I'm sure they felt the same. Some of my friends didn't like my behaviour, understandable I suppose. It soon whittled down to just 3 of us on a regular basis. One night a few months later, I was making my way back home with a guy who was rather drunk. His hands were all over me, and while I enjoyed the attention I tried to calm him down. We stopped for a kissing session in a shop doorway. His hand went up my skirt and I only offered a token resistance.
"Well look at that the little tart!"
I looked over the guy's shoulder and there stood Maureen with one of her friends. She watched as I tried several times to get the guy's hand out from under my skirt.
"Hey what's up with y, you my mate said you, were a, a guaranteed shag," he slurred, and then pushed me away.
He stumbled up the road kicking the bin that had blocked his path.
"Well you do know how to pick them, married men who won't leave their wives, and drunks who obviously know you have a reputation."
I stood there wanting to sink into the pavement. The look of delight on her face was too much to stomach. I went to walk away but she grabbed me by the arm.
"Who is looking after Sammy while you're out grabbing anything in trousers?"
"Michelle's daughter," I replied, ignoring the rest of her remark.
"So you were going to take him home and have some fun, well that was if he didn't puke over you first."
I looked between her and her friend. My eyes opened a little wider.
"Oh you recognise Yvonne then?"
"Oh yes we know each other, well not really know each other, but I've seen her leaving the club with a different guy every Saturday night."
"Yvonne works behind the coat desk; she has been telling me all about you and your, friends."
God I had to get away from the pair of them basking in my humiliation. The next thing I knew I was squashed between them in a taxi. We dropped Yvonne off first and then went to my house. I paid Della for looking after Sammy and she went off home in the taxi.
"God this place is untidy," Maureen spat.
"It's clean," I retorted, feeling my head spin, "Shit I'm going to be sick."