Taken Unaware by KJ Larson
Jen sat on Mike and Cindy's bed, trembling and crying in Cindy's arms. The beautiful summer day had started with such promise; spectacular weather and a barbecue with friends. Then the process server appeared on her doorstep and served her with divorce papers. It was not unexpected - she and Rich had been separated for nearly three months - but the court-stamped documents made it all real.
It would be the first divorce in her family - ever. She couldn't even think of another divorced person in the conservative church culture she grew up in. Her self-identity and self-esteem were shattered, the well-being of her children and her financial security in question, at now at the age of 28 her entire future was in doubt. It was just too much and the pain was disabling.
Cindy left the room briefly then returned with four small blue tablets and a glass of water. "These are Valium that Liz just gave me. They will calm you down and will help you stop shaking. Come out to the barbecue, sit in the sun, hopefully it'll take your mind off things." Jen gratefully accepted and downed the small tablets.
Jen sat on a chaise lounge determined to survive the day. She tried to maintain a brave face as the women all made a point to chat and commiserate with the pretty young wife struggling with such intense pain. Very quickly the amnestic sedative flooded her central nervous system and she floated into a tranquil fog.
Twenty minutes late Liz checked on Jen and was alarmed to find her listless and dazed. She asked Cindy how many of the tablets Jen had taken. Cindy indicated all four. Liz's eye grew wide, "Those are 10 MG tablets; half of one would have been enough for her, she's only 125 pounds. I thought you knew I was giving her extra for later!"
"Oh Christ! She's never had one and she doesn't drink. Her body must be on tilt. Let's get her out of the sun." They attempted to rouse her and walk her to the guest room but she was limp and lethargic. "Mike!" Cindy hollered, "Get Jen into the guest room now!" Mike tried unsuccessfully to lift her by the arm before calling over his men's league soccer teammate Neil to assist. They put the wilted woman between them and carried her like an injured soldier from the battlefield.
Cindy and Liz followed them into the guest room and then shooed the men out so they could make her comfortable. They took her shoes, blouse, and jeans off before covering her with a bed sheet. They sat with her until they were certain she was breathing normally, then closed the door and left her alone to rejoin the other guests.
With the lunch of grilled chicken, burgers, and salads, Heineken flowed freely from the keg, and Mike's Sonos system filled the yard with a varied playlist of popular music.
It was quiet inside the house. Neil filled a glass of water from the kitchen faucet, not because he was thirsty, but so he could look out the kitchen window and be sure his absence went unnoticed. He was relieved to see Cindy thoroughly engaged in an animated conversation with a number of her girlfriends. Mike was kicking a soccer ball with the younger boys.
Neil went down the hall to the guest room door. He glanced back down the hall before opening it, going in silently, and turning to close the door slowly and quietly behind him.
Though the blinds were closed, daylight seeped in and could easily see Jen's languid shape on the bed. She was partially covered in a sheet with one leg visible. Neil crept to her side and studied her face intently as she slept. His heart pounded in his chest and he reminded himself to breathe.