At the restaurant where I worked, my friends were the only ones who knew about my plan. They cried as we prepared for our impending farewell.
That night, we went to a bar to celebrate a small goodbye. We shared sweet memories with one another.
"Don’t forget about us when you succeed, Irish!" Maria exclaimed, hugging me tightly.
I gave her a small smile. "How could I forget you? You're such an important part of my life."
Before heading home, I excused myself to go to the restroom. But since I was unfamiliar with the place, I got lost in a long hallway with many rooms. As I tried to find my way back, I heard laughter coming from one of the rooms.
Slowly, I approached. My heart sank when I saw Bobby in the room with Grace and his friends. They were playing cards, laughing merrily.
"Look, Bobby, if you lose, you have to take the punishment!" one of his friends teased, followed by hearty laughter.
I pulled out my phone and called him, wanting to test his honesty.
"Sweetheart, where are you? When are you coming home?" I asked in a calm tone.
Bobby answered the call, his expression immediately stiffening. "Sorry, honey. I’m working late tonight. You should go to bed," he said flatly.
I could hear his friends playing along, pretending to talk about work as if they were really at the office.
"Alright. I’ll go to bed first," I replied, pretending to believe him.
After I hung up, their laughter erupted again.
"Why do you still keep a woman like her around, Bobby?" one of his friends sneered.
Bobby chuckled. "To take care of the house, cook, and clean, of course."
My body went weak instantly. My vision blurred as I held back tears. But I stayed there, watching as Grace clung to Bobby affectionately. She noticed my presence. Instead of feeling guilty, she ran her fingers along Bobby’s neck and kissed him passionately.
I couldn’t bear to watch anymore. With unsteady steps, I left the hallway. Each step felt heavy, as if my emotional burden weighed me down.
---
That night, Bobby didn’t come home. Instead, I received a text from Grace.
[He’s drunk and sound asleep in my bed. Get used to sharing Bobby with me from now on.]
The message was accompanied by a photo of Bobby lying naked on a bed.
[Or you could do the right thing and leave his life.]
I typed a brief reply. [Tell Bobby I left something in the room. If he comes home, tell him to check. It’s a gift from me.]