And Then There Was Us

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ERICA(THE MOM)

I was fifteen when I met him, a sophomore.
He was eighteen, a junior.
I met him during one of his football games. He was the schools most famous boy. He came from a wealthy family and attended a public school, therefore he would always have attention all over him. The second my eyes met his, I knew he was the one. I was in love. During the whole game, he kept looking at me, he waved at me trying to get my attention, but I ignored him, trying to act though.
You know how teenage girls can be sometimes. After the game ended, he approached me as I was getting out of my seat.

" Hey cutie." He said
" are you talking to me." I respond.
"Are there any other cuties around here?"
at that time, I giggled. But now, looking back at it, it makes me cringe.
" Can i get your number?" He questioned.

" Sure." I replied as I took out a pen and paper from my backpack and wrote my number on it.
He called later that evening.
we stayed on the phone talking all night. He was so charming and so good with his words. He told me that he was attending NYU to study business.

" I want to be an owner of a big company one day." He explained.
Soon after that night, we started dating. At first, our relationship was going great. My parents loved him and his parents adored me. He always bought me flowers and gifts. He always left a note everyday for me inside of my locker. He was so sweet and caring.
"What a thoughtful man he is." My friends used to tell me. They were all jealous of me.

Four months into our relationship, we had our first real full on fight. It was during summer break, a week before he left for college. We were fighting over how many times he'd come to visit. I asked him if he could at least visit twice a month but he rejected the offer on the spot.

" I'll barely have any free time, and you except me to come visit you twice a month. You're crazy."
" Well can't you at least try finding time?" I asked him.
" I already told you I'll have no time. What's your deal?"
" just please try." I begged.
" I told you i can't do that." He announces as he lifts his hand and hits my face with it. The slap was so hard it felt his handprint on my face. My face was bruised for days.

After he slapped me, I picked myself up and left his house. We didn't talk for a week after that. The night before he left for college, he came over to my house, uninvited. He had brought me flowers.
" Erica, I'm so sorry that i hurt you. I didn't mean to slap you. I just didn't notice you were so close to me and I just lifted my hand to adjust my hair and accidentally slapped you. You know that it wasn't my intention. You know how much i love you and how much i crave you. You're the one destined for me, please I do not want to leave you on such bad terms. I love you Erica." that day was the first day he had ever told me he loved me.
I could see how sorry he was. I even myself felt bad for being over dramatic. It wasn't his fault. He didn't hit me. It was just an accident in a heated argument. That's it.

" I'll take you back on one condition."
" I'll do anything i promise."
" At least try to visit me once a month. That's the least you can do."
"What ever you want. I'll try my best."
Our relationship proceeded smoothly. The old him came back. Until once he came, when he came back from college. I was waiting for him patiently in his room.

I was surprising him, he didn't know that i was waiting for him. When he walked into his room, he looked so mad. He was redder than a tomato.
" What do you think gives you the right to come to my house without telling."
" I wanted to surprise you. Aren't you excited to see me?"
" I am but not like that."

" what do you mean not like that andrew?"
" Do not call me by my first name." He said as he pushed me onto his bed. It's wasn't a small, little push, he full on pushed me, with all of his force, onto his bed.

" You're nothing but shit andrew."
" I told you not to call me by my name. Can't you understand that?" He said as he grabbed me by my hair.
" I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please just leave my hair. You're hurting me."

He always knew how to win me back. He was so good with his words, he knows how to manipulate you using his words. It has always been this way. But this time, his words weren't going to work. I stayed up all night awake rethinking our whole relationship and when i saw my two kids next to me, i knew what had to be done snd and i wish i did it sooner. I caused my kids so many issues, trauma, raised them in an abusive household. My kids problems are all my fault. I can never forgive myself.

I watched him come down the stairs the next morning. When he came down we were all awake at that point.

"Erica, honey, I'm so sorry i was so drunk last night i don't know what was going. You know that that's not the real me. You know i love you."
I listened to him talk without saying a word. A couple of minutes later, i broke silence.

" I want a divorce."

"What! Are you serious right now? Erica, please tell me you're joking. You can't do this to me. I love you E. Please forgive me." He says as he drops down on his knees.

" Andrew i gave up my life for you. And look what you do. I gave up everything for you. I didn't even go to college because you wanted to get married early. And you knew how much I wanted to become a nurse. You banned me from my dreams. You took that right away from me. I'm sorry Drew, but this time I have to do what's best for me. I want to divorce you." I respond.
He sighs and puts his hands on his hips.
" I'll give my attorney a call and tell him to start filling for divorce. I think I'm going to go out for a few hours and come back to take my stuff."

" Mom, are you okay?" Berty asks.

"Ive never been happier. You guys are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm so grateful for the both of you. You've grow up to be such nice people. You guys are my joy. I love the both of you very much." I confess in between my tears.

" We love you too mom. More than you know." Em replied.