- 2.
L
Mark’s driving the car we picked out together
for our wedding.
When we bought it, he said, “I’m gonna drive
this thing to pick up my Sarah on our wedding
day.”
I never even got to ride in it.
Now Ashley’s riding shotgun.
Mark leans over to buckle her seatbelt.
They’re really close.
When Mark straightens up, Ashley gives him a
quick kiss on the cheek.
He glances over at me, almost without
く
Ashley sees me watching and scowls. “I’m
sorry, but Mark got this car for me. It’s just
for me, and I don’t want any other women in
it.”
Mark smiles at her, all whipped. “Whatever
you want.”
Then they take off, leaving me choking on the
exhaust fumes.
My eyes start to sting, and I feel tears welling
- up.
I get a cab over to the house, but the gates
are locked tight.
My stuff is scattered all over the driveway.
I bang on the gate for a while until the
housekeeper, Maria, comes to the door.
She knows I’m confused. She doesn’t know
what to say. “Miss Ashley told me to put
these out here.”
Ashley’s voice comes from inside. “Oh? Are
those your things? Sorry, I thought it was just
some junk someone left here, so I had it
tossed. No hard feelings, right?”
Ashley comes out, arms crossed, with this
smug look on her face.
I force a smile. “Your manners are really
something.”
Mark yells from inside. “Sarah, don’t push it.
Ashley apologized, what more do you want?”
く
Mark walks over to Ashley, puts his arm
around her, and gives me this icy stare.
He looks at my stuff on the ground, then says,
“That’s all just garbage anyway. It’s a wonder
you even care so much about it.”
My throat closes up, and my heart feels like
it’s being squeezed. I can’t get a word out.
He rushes me. “Enough whining. Get your
stuff and get out of here. I don’t want to see
you again.”
Same here, buddy.
There’s no point in arguing.
I swallow the lump in my throat and start
く
I haven’t lived here long, but I have a lot of
stuff.
It fills up two suitcases.
This house was supposed to be our first
house together.
I picked out the furniture and everything.
I thought, this is where we’ll spend the rest of
our lives.
But now the house is the same, just with a
new person living in it.
It’s all messed up.
I pick up my two suitcases and start to walk
Г
Ashley takes a deep breath. “Without all that
junk, the air’s a lot fresher.”
Mark tells Maria, “Have someone clean the
whole place, top to bottom. Anything else
that’s hers, toss it in the garbage.”
I stop walking.
I try not to cry, but I can barely hold it
together.
I turn around and say to Ashley, “Here’s your
garbage.”
