Just Dreams

Left Behind

Jason didn't see this coming.

He thought his wife, Mellie, loved him. He thought his girl, Jesse, admired him. He thought his boy, Mike, looked up to him.

He didn't know they were unhappy with what he gave them. He didn't know Mellie had found another, richer, successful man. He didn't know Jesse was unsatisfied with the little garden he bought and built for her. He didn't know Mike was unhappy with the amount of toys he received every week with the little extra money Jason had after buying groceries.

He didn't know his family was leaving him, until it was too late.

It was another night where Mellie argued with Jason, or more like she yelled and he listened. She went off about how he was using the money for himself, didn't love her anymore, ignored the children, was probably seeing another woman, adding a few insults here and there. But they were all lies. He worked hard for the money to help his family, he tried to spend as much time with his children as possible, and he was absolutely, utterly, ridiculously smitten with her.

She told (screamed at) him to get out and that she didn't want to see him for the rest of the week, and he obliged. She was probably in a bad mood that day and he made it worse, maybe he had done something wrong by accident, whatever it was, he was going to respect her wishes and go and sleep inside his car, maybe stay over at a friend's house for the week.

Time Skip,
one week later

I waved goodbye to my friend as I drove away from his house, some of his kids on the porch waving their hands crazily with grins, making me smile back. I wish my kids would wave me goodbye each morning.

The smile stayed on my face all the way back home, but fell almost immediately at the sight of another car parked at the front. I frowned in confusion, but shook it off right after, thinking it was Jesse or Mike's friends. God, was I wrong.

I parked in front of the house, seeing as I didn't have space to my own garage, and turned off the car. My eyes never left the car as I looked at it up and down, trying to decipher whose car was these. I opened the door and walked out, the sound of laughter coming from the backyard calmed down my nerves a little, but not enough to take the frown off my face.

I walked around the house and into the open field, my eyes widening as I looked at the big, colorful garden, while the one I built was nowhere in sight.

I turned to my left as the laughter stopped, seeming as if everything froze for a moment. Mellie sat at a fancy glass table with an umbrella, covering her from the sun, which I don't remember buying, while she drank a glass of wine wearing a new white dress. Jesse and Mike were also wearing new clothes. Jesse was playing in her new garden while Mike laughed and grinned with another man chasing him jokingly. They looked like a happy family. Without me.

But they all stilled when they saw me. My family's faces turned from happy to moody while the man stood there confused. Who even is he?

"Mellie?" I called hesitantly, my eyes looking back and forth between her and the guy. He was hot, I've got to admit, but that just concerned me more.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her tone so sharp I could feel them pierce through my heart, her cold glare directed at me. Why? What did I do?

"I came back." I told her in sad confusion, the feeling of my heart beating in my chest so fast hurt. It hurt, please make it stop. "I came back, you knew I was going to come back today." My frown deepened as my eyes stinged, the tears making my sight blur yet I didn't let them fall. I couldn't.

"Well I didn't want you back, so why are you here?" She raised her voice, her glare hardening with every word.

"Y-you told me to leave for a week, and I did. I did as you asked, and you said a week, and I told you, I told you I'd be back today." My voice cracked as I tried to defend myself. I could never fight her, I could never hate her, but I didn't know she could.

"I take it back then. Leave, and never come back, I got a better life now, with a man who loves me." At that I turned to look at the guy again, but I just stared in shock and sadness. I couldn't be angry with him if he made her so happy, but to know I've been replaced just hurts so much more.

The guy looked in shock at her words too and stared back at me. His eyes showed confusion and pity, making me turn away and look back at Mellie who looked satisfied at the pain her words brought to me.

"But I do love you..." She scoffed and rolled her eyes, and my stomach twisted in a way that made me want to hug myself and cry, scream, and throw up, but I held it in. "How come what I do is never enough for you?" I asked instead, something I've been wanting to ask for a long time. Her eyes widened in shock but the anger grew, almost as if I just offended her.

"You never did anything for me." Now it was my eyes that widened, confusion showing all over my body.

"I do everything for you!" I exclaimed. I actually exclaimed. I raised my voice, slight confidence bubbling up in my stomach, the need to get everything that I've held in for so long to come out growing stronger. "I do everything for all of you!" I pointed at my family as my voice cracked with emotions. "I work hard, everyday, to pay for the rent and bills, I pay for the groceries, I pay for the electricity, I pay for the water, I'm the one who cooks, cleans and does the laundry and with whatever money I have left I buy you guys whatever you want, yet you're still not satisfied!"

I laughed as tears fell down my face, but my smile didn't last for long as I shook my head. "I never put myself before you guys, yet you're still mad. You guys have new clothes, new toys, new plants, new bags, new everything while I wear the same outfit for work everyday. You want to know where I got this shirt from? I coworker gave it to me. These 'new' shoes? They didn't fit my brother anymore. This bag is not even mine, I have to give it back to my friend tomorrow at work." They all stood frozen as I actually glared at Mellie. "After I give you my all, you still want more." I scoff a laugh sarcastically.

I looked over all their shocked faces, the guy's face just showing sympathy and what I think is pride? I don't know, but I know now that I can't stay here. "I'll leave now, seeing as all I own is already in this bag." I turned around and when I was right at the corner, I turned back and flashed them all an obviously fake smile. "Hope you're happy with your new toy."

➷Y Colorín Colorado, Este Cuento Se A Acabado➹