BETHEL

Truth

I awoke to the sight of Dave passed out on the bed, but it wasn't that which startled me. A blonde woman, clad only in lingerie, was rummaging through my belongings. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: Dave couldn't pay his debt, so she was taking matters into her own hands.

"Stop!" I demanded, my voice filled with anger.

The woman paused, her gaze icy. "Looks like you're the nanny here," she sneered. "Your loser of a boyfriend owes me thirty bucks."

My temper flared, but I knew better than to lash out. This wasn't her fault.

Checking Dave's wallet, I pulled out all the cash. With a satisfied smirk, she turned to leave. "Woman to woman," she said, pausing at the door. "You deserve better."

As she disappeared, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was right.

The following day, seated on my loveseat, I waited expectantly, staring at my tea, eager to confront that rodent and remove him from my apartment.

Five minutes later, Dave entered the living room, complaining of a headache and how he had discovered his toothbrush in the toilet. I stared at him impassively, pondering what had initially drawn me to him.

"Babe, did you take money from my wallet? I had cash in it yesterday," he asked.

Finally glancing my way, he noticed his luggage beside the living room door.

"Are we going somewhere?" he asked, making me smirk.

"No, just you." He looked confused.

"Is this some kind of joke, Bethel?" he asked.

This made me laugh.

"Grab your belongings and leave my house, Dave," I glared.

Still confused, he tried to approach me. I drew my gun, forcing him to raise his hands. He looked at the gun with fear.

"Come any closer, and I won't hesitate, Dave. I pitied you. I took you in, believed in you, and for what? Only for you to cheat on me and bring illegal drugs into my house!" I shouted.

"Lower your voice," he cursed, "babe. I was just having fun. She was just a fling. ... Do you want Mrs. Anthony to hear us?"

I looked at him with disdain. "You have five minutes to leave my house, Dave, or I'll call the police and tell them it was self-defense. You know they'll believe me since the gun is registered in your name."

He sighed.

"Do you think it was easy for me all this while, yet with all your flaws I stayed with you?" Dave spoke, his voice filled with a misplaced pride. "You need to understand me, Bethel. I'm really trying here. And to think I just woke up and you pull this stunt... I see you're stressed from work and all, so I'll give you a week to cool off. Call me when you've gotten your shit together."

Even in the face of danger, he continued to act as if he were above reproach. Didn't he see the gun I was holding?

"Are you forgetting who has the gun?" I raised a brow, making him scoff. He gathered his belongings and left my apartment.

Sighing, I decided I wasn't in the mood to go to work today. The day had barely begun, and I was already exhausted.

As I went to the kitchen to wash my teacup, I heard a knock at the door. Feeling irritated that Dave hadn't left, I grabbed the nearest object and headed towards the door, shouting.

Throwing the door open, I yelled, "Did you hit your head during birth?"

"No dear, but I was told the nurse was so scared I wasn't breathing, she smacked me to cry," Mrs. Anthony teased with a little smirk on her lips.

"I am so sorry about that. It wasn't meant for you," I pleaded.

"I know dear. ... I heard everything and so I came to check if you were okay and also because I am grateful to God for finally hearing one of many prayers again. ... Finally, that leech has gone."

Dave was right after all. She could hear us.

She made her way in, ending my plans of being alone.

She was one of the people who hated Dave. ... I still laugh back when she would come visiting with her homemade pasta and she wouldn't bring any for Dave. She would always say she didn't know it wasn't enough, but Dave knew otherwise.

They never liked each other.

We chatted for a while until she told me she needed to get prepared for her billionaire son who was coming to take her out.

I remember asking her why she wasn't living with him. She replied, "This was where I met his father. I relive our days here. It makes me feel closer to him dear."

I moved here two years ago, and all I can say is she was a mother figure to me.

Later that evening, I got a call from Debby. She was worried because I didn't show up today, so she asked if I was okay. ... I told her what happened with Dave, then she said she was on her way.

An hour of rewatching can't help but fall in love. There was a knock on my door. Realizing who it could be, I groaned, going to open the door.