Manic: Confessions of a Wife

Manic Book 1: Chapter 1

Mrs. Lori went over The Hawkins' files carefully, anticipating a heavy mood during their meeting. However, the tension between them was thicker than she had expected. As she entered the room, she noticed both of them carelessly scrolling through their phones, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation.

"Shall we get started?" she began, clearing her throat. "Again, I want to thank you both for being here. I understand that you both requested my counsel for your marriage." She paused briefly, scrolling through the paperwork. "From what I've gathered, it seems that sex is the primary concern. I've reviewed the details provided and have some understanding of each of you." She looked up, addressing them directly. "Now, I'd like to delve into specifics. Who would like to begin?"

They exchanged glances but remained silent.

"We could settle this with a game of rock-paper-scissors?" she suggested with a hint of humor, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I'm surprised my husband isn't talking your ear off like he usually does!" She shot a glance at him. "Now that we have a mediator, you're quiet? Hmm, quite interesting!"

"I don't even know where to start, to be honest. My wife..." His voice trailed off as he lowered his head, holding back tears.

Savannah scoffed at him and muttered under her breath, "So dramatic."

"I'm sorry, what was that, Savannah?" Lori heard her but wanted her to say it boldly.

"I said," she looked over at him, "With your dramatic ass!" Almost leaning out of her chair, she continued, "Lori, he caught me sending random men sexy photos, that's it! Like I told this guy before, I don't even know any of them. They were—"

He interrupted her, "They were from a dating app! Don't forget to mention that."

"Oh my gosh, I was just about to say that before you cut me off acting all mad. As I was saying, Lori, they were random guys I met on a dating app. We only communicated through the app and email; no personal numbers were exchanged. I sent them sexy or nude photos, but we never planned to meet or have sex. I even swore to him, and he still won't believe me!"

Lori shuffled through a few papers. "Ah yes... You mentioned that you don't believe your wife because she won't swear on the Bible, is that correct?"

Savannah lets out an aggravated sigh, "Are you fuckin' fa real? Oh my gosh, ok so yeah...," she claps her hands softly, "I have not fucked any of them; don't intend to and that's that. The problem is that he thinks I enjoy doing this but I don't!" She starts crying, "Does he not understand how horrible this is for me? I'm fuckin' disgusted by all of this. I'm embarrassed, I'm humiliated...like, I don't know what else he wants me to say." She takes the tissue handed to her, wiping her tears away.

Malik mumbles, "Fuck those fake ass tears man."

She takes a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Look, I know you're trying to help Lori, but it's just so frustrating. He doesn't seem to get how much this is affecting me. I don't want to be a part of this, but he keeps pushing and expecting me to just go along with it." She looks up at their therapist, her eyes pleading for understanding. "What am I supposed to do? I'm being honest and yet, he's saying, 'fuck my feelings'? Like..."

"Hell yeah it's fuck those tears, because you don't give a damn about how I feel." He scoots up on the edge of his chair, "You're right, it's been fuck your feelings since that bullshit you pulled."

"It's just something I like to do from time to time. I think it's sexy, and yes, it's kinda like foreplay for me," she says, wiping the last of her tears off her face, "I don't see a problem with that, I really don't."