The Hunt

My Life or My Wife

While I was having an interesting conversation with Lisa, the weight of the growing mystery pressed on me as I quickly grabbed my phone and made my way back to the truck. Raven's voice suddenly cut through the cold air and asked us what we should do next.

"So what now?" Raven queried.

"We need to find out more about Matthew's family because I am sure there is more to what is being said," I replied with a sense of urgency.

Raven, seemingly disinterested, retorted, "So we're about to find some information that's possibly not even there or relevant. The lady already told you what you needed to know. His son is a problem, and his dad spoils him; the problem is solved. Let's go back to the hotel."

As my anger grew, I spoke up and said, "Excuse me."

"Well, we were given information; the job is done. We can relax," Raven insisted.

"No, I'm not some little errand secretary reporting everything that came out of her mouth because she could be lying," I countered.

Raven, maintaining her dismissive stance, argued, "You're making it harder on yourself by contemplating everything everyone says."

"Would you believe a stranger?" I challenged.

"What reason did they give you not to believe them?" Raven responded.

"Forget it. You won't understand; this is my job, not a hobby. I can't just half-ass things and be done," I expressed frustration.

"We would spend more time together like last night if you did," Raven retorted.

In a decisive move, I stopped, locking eyes with her as I emphasized, "This is not a vacation; this is my job, and I'm taking it seriously."

"I wish you had taken us more seriously," Raven replied.

Growing weary of her bratty demeanor, I expressed, "I am so sick of your bratty behavior. As soon as you don't get your way, you downplay the one thing I must do without you, and I put the effort in. Maybe you should get a job and stop half-assing your life; you would see how I feel about this."

Raven, tearing up, looked at me, attempting to use her tears as ammunition to wound my heart, but it failed.

"I'm dropping you off at the hotel room, no offense, but I can't with the downplay anymore. I get it's not essential to you, but this job is to me, and I take pride in it. I would appreciate it if you stop comparing my family to it. I might not stop you from leaving if you want to, but if you don't feel like I'm giving you enough attention, then you shouldn't be with me. Please stop trying to make me feel bad for your insecurities because I have made sacrifices for each one you brought to my attention, but that ends here."

Leaving the conversation with a palpable wound inside Raven, we both entered the car and drove off in an oppressive silence. As I pulled up to the hotel, I refrained from putting the vehicle in the park immediately, anticipating the storm that awaited me as Raven, fueled by emotions, stormed toward our hotel room. The dim glow of streetlights cast an ambient light on the pavement, creating a somber backdrop to the impending confrontation. The hushed whispers of the night added an eerie layer to the unfolding drama as if nature sensed the tension in the air. Aware of the uphill battle to mend the ruptured connection with my headstrong wife, I parked the car, bracing myself for the impending confrontation.

Approaching our hotel room, the soft glow of the peephole hinted at the storm awaiting on the other side. With a tentative keycard swipe, the door swung open, revealing the space where emotions collided and words carried weight. The room, once a haven, now bore witness to the fractures in our connection. The muted lighting cast shadows that danced in tandem with the unresolved tension. Raven, a silhouette against the dim glow, stood as a poignant figure, her tear-stained face reflecting the emotional turmoil that mirrored my own. The scent of the hotel's generic air freshener lingered, an olfactory backdrop to the charged atmosphere.