(The Virtuous Husband) In the name of Love

Chapter 25

Noel

I was wrapping up my life. Back at the house that I had brought for Cheryl and myself. The place where we had stayed ever since we married was there, but sadly the marriage wasn't. I had taken an off from the work and come down here early morning.

Last night I had realized that things were never going to change between us, and there was no longer the need for me to chase the truth. Even if it was in the light, nothing could turn back the time and bring it all back. Cheryl had turned bitter and was now hurting me. Nothing could ever take that hurt away from me, and that had made me realize that there was no need to flog a dead horse.

I had too many things in this house. Too many reminders which I had been holding off to, and I knew I had to let go.

Christine

I looked at the various photographs that Cheryl had left behind. All the things that once were part of her now lay packed in this bag. Everything was packed and wrapped up.

Noel had called me to his old house to pack all these things up. He was finally selling the house.  He had told me to send all of these things for donations. All the money that came would go there.

When he had told me this, I had been ecstatic because it was for the best.

No one should keep on suffering through the loop of endless pain.

The past was never easy to remember and opening it up will only end in taking out all the dirt that I had put so long to forget. I had been in therapy for so long that now I understood that.

How my family had dropped me was shocking for me? My sister and I had never been on good terms but Noel had been like a brother to me and when the fingers had been raised on him because of me I had been the one to step up.

I smiled at the courage of going up against them. If I had been the naive girl then I would have never forgiven myself.

Cheryl had always hated me enough to not let me be the bridesmaid even at her wedding. I had been the one to sit at the edge and watch my sister get married. I was the second child and she had the first one, the golden child. She had been the apple of my parent's eyes and even though it wasn't that they didn't treat me well but it was just that I had spent half the alive under her shadow.

When I had grown to mine I had indulged in things that I was never supposed to be. Maybe if I hadn't done things like that then no one had ever had the opportunity to point a finger at me. Maybe I would have been able to explain myself.

Some nights all I wanted was to leave everything behind.

Everything already felt like it was falling apart. Drugs would do that to you. I had enough in my system. Breathed them in since I was seventeen. I was getting sick of myself.

Jayce had been the first who had given it to me. He liked to see me dance and the seventeen-year-old me loved the attention. Felt so good under his gaze, how his fingertips touched me under the table, and how he made me feel.

I wasn't the golden daughter and no one cared what I did but he did. The seven years gap between us didn't matter to me. The first time he had touched me was at a party I shouldn't have been. It was at a club where I shouldn't have been allowed but no one was ever there to look over me. I had a few friends and even they were busy. I was the nobody who was unwanted.

Jayce has seen me. Our eyes met and I had danced for him. I felt wanted then and he had dragged my drunk ass out of the club only to push me against the wall to kiss me, I was a goner. He was all I had wanted, all I desired. It was wrong but I was addicted to the attention I got.