Destined to Fall

Allyson

They say everyone has a person who changes their life. Who changes who they are and what they believe in. Mine was Veronica Litser.

Veronica Litser is my dads work friend. My dad is a teacher at a middle school, and Veronica teaches in the classroom next to his. When they have work parties, Veronica hangs entertains my dad. When the teachers go to the bar, Veronica sits next to my dad. And apparently, when my mom is visiting my sick grandma, Veronica stays in my parents bed. I think you get what that means.

A few months ago, my mom left to visit my grandma, who was getting sick. The night she left, my dad went out to the bar with Veronica. From my bedroom, I heard him stumbling around knocking into things when he came home from the bar but I didn't bother to check on him. My dad didn't like me seeing him drunk. He said he didn't want to be a bad influence. The next morning, I was eating breakfast quietly in the living room even though my dad always told me to eat at the table. I heard the slamming of a door and peaked out the windows that lead to our front. There, in the broad daylight, in my front yard, was my dad with Veronica. Kissing her goodbye. It was warm out so the windows were open and I could hear every word.

"I hope Krissie's gone again soon," Veronica whispered in my dads ear. "Last night was..." she giggled.

He kissed her. "Krissie won't be back for a few days Ronnie. Maybe I'll see you again tonight."

"Maybe you will," she smirked. With that she gave him one last kiss and trotted off to her car, waving goodbye as she drove off.

My dad walked back into the house and saw me sitting there at the window, awestruck.

"Shit," he muttered. "How much of that did you see Ally?"

"You... you're cheating on mom?" I asked, my voice cracking.

"Ally you can't tell her. I'm serious. Don't say anything. This was just... a one night thing. I promise. Don't tell your mom, it'll only hurt her."

I bit my lip. "Fine. I won't say anything. But if I see her here again... I'm not keeping that promise."

My dad nodded solemnly. He was just glad I wasn't gonna tell mom right away. As it turns out, it didn't matter. Our neighbor Kendra- who was also one of my moms friends- saw them that morning too and told my mom. When my mom confronted my dad, he didn't deny it. Now, months later, my parents are in the middle of a divorce.

They say that everyone has someone who changes you. Veronica changed me for the worse. My whole life, I believed in soulmates, I believed that everyone had their one true love and they'd stay together forever. It was easy to think that when I was constantly seeing my parents, still in love after getting together as freshmen in high school. But now, with my dad cheating with Veronica, I'm not sure I can believe in that anymore. If my parents who had the perfect relationship, can't stay together, can anyone? I doubt it.