Grind

Prologue

August 15th. That was a very special day to me, as it was mine and my boyfriend, Joel's anniversary. This year was special though, because on this particular August 15th, Joel and I had been together for exactly 3 years.

You see, Joel was my high school sweetheart. We were friends all the way up from kindergarten to our senior year, when Joel confessed his feelings for me and I fortunately returned them. Now, fresh out of college with an English major, I was working at a small publishing house in downtown New York and my beau was a mechanic at Sam's Auto, his dad's car shop. Our lives were pretty much planned out to perfection, we'd move in together, get married, have kids; the whole works. I was happy, and he was too. Or so I thought. 

I had planned something extremely special for our anniversary, and I was so excited. I had decided to do something lowkey and small, because I knew he wasn't one for big, expensive things. On our first date, Joel took me to this really cute little carnival that comes to the park near our old high school every year. I was going to take him there and then bring him back to my little apartment, and we could cuddle up together, watch movies, and have some much-needed "alone time." It had been kind of slow in the sex department lately, with both of our working lives interfering with our relationship. 

As the 15th drew closer, I felt Joel slipping further away from me. The phone calls we shared every night we were away from each other started coming once or twice a week and the surprise visits to my work or my apartment stopped. The good morning and good night text messages I always received were no longer blowing up my phone. I feared he was losing interest. And to my extreme disappointment, I was right. 

The day had arrived, our three year anniversary! I couldn't wait to get the spark back into our relationship. I knew I loved Joel more than anything in this world, I just needed to feel connected to him once more, like I hadn't felt in ages. 

Joel, however, had other plans for our anniversary. 

"Joel, baby, you home?" I called out as I unlocked the door to his little downtown apartment with the key he had given me when he moved in. I could hear muffled sounds from his bedroom and I smiled. He was waiting for me. 

I walked down the hallway leading towards the door, taking off my jacket and shoes on the way. I slowly turned the doorknob and when I opened the door I was surprised to see candles lit all around the room. A small smile tugged at my lips, Joel was never this romantic. 

There was no sight of him in the bedroom so I made my way over to the attached bathroom. When I opened the door, my jaw dropped to the floor and a cry escaped my lips. 

In the bathtub my boyfriend was, naked and covered in lavendar-scented bubbles, rubbing some tramp's back.

"What the hell is this?" I screamed, and my voice cracked a little on the last word. 

Joel and the slut jumped, obviously not expecting someone to walk in on them. When Joel turned around and realized who was standing there, his face paled and he got panicky. 

"Shania! Uh... I can explain!" 

I couldn't stop the tears that were flowing in a steady stream down my red cheeks. I couldn't believe this.

"Happy anniversary," I whispered softly, and slowly made my way to the door. Expecting him to chase after me, I paused before turning the doorknob.

He didn't move a muscle.