Cheater

Unexpected

"When can you... Go 'ome?" Damien asked, seating himself in a chair beside Jeanie.

"Today, tomorrow, I think.." Bernadine smiled, as Damien's frown would not let up.
He was bothered, and irritable now, at the thought of Bernadine hurt, and heartbroken.

He was concerned. He was worried. He cared.
He was here. The only man in her life she once trusted was not.

Bernadine shook her thoughts, and began nibbling on her black acrylic nails.
Nobody was speaking.

Nobody had any words just yet.

"Have you talked about signing the papers?" Evelyn cleared her throat, tearing her eyes from the tall and dark man across the room.

Sitting up properly, Bernadine shrugged, and felt the disappointment radiating from the Frenchman.

"What's that mean?" Evelyn pried, rolling her eyes, and folding her arms.

"When I first found out; he called me to say that he was never going to sign the papers. We didn't discuss anything," Bernie sighed, waiting for the onslaught of disapproval from the women of the room, "I don't know.."

"Well, you must. Divorce proceedings are so costly.. Lawyers, Attorneys, Accountants.. Then there's kids. Who has them when?" Dina began to babble about the horrors of divorce.

Bernadine could hear it, but she wasn't listening.
She knew what divorces were and how messy they got, she didn't need reminding.

"He might turn. He might try and take the kids, or take your money. You know what men are like when you tell them no.." Jill grumbled.

"Jill, your failing marriage is not the same as Bernies!" Dina cut off the sister with a fierce look, "Just because your man cheats and you want out, doesn't mean Bernie has to! Daniel still fucks around on you!" Dina finished as the room was in silence again.

Dropping her folded arms, Jill blinked twice, looking from her mother, to Evelyn, to Bernadine, and to Damien, who had uncomfortably crossed his legs.

"I need a drink," She breathed, quickly crossing the room, to leave the ward.

***

"Maybe when she sees me, she'll realise why we fell in love in the first place," Michael mumbled. They had stopped in the corridor, as security checked the connecting halls.

Jermaine slapped a hand on Michael's shoulder and laughed, "I thought that seeing you landed her here?" Jermaine chuckled as Michael sighed.

His heart was too heavy, too heavy to even lead him.

The absence of a love so familiar tore him to pieces, and he couldn't help but look a broken man.

1993 Florida Hotel

"Promise you'll always love me?" Michael nibbled his lip, stroking through the large fro that adorned his chest.
Bernadine smiled against his warm skin, and kissed it.

"I promise. Yo, why do you keep asking me that?" She chuckled, when he picked up her hand, and ran his thumb over her wedding band.

"Because, I'm scared, Bernadine. They hate me. They hate me so much, they'd try and tear me to the ground with a disgusting lie.."
"I know, but I know you. I'm with you all the time, I think I'd know if you were touching lil boys, no?"

"Yeah, but they don't. I don't want you to feel like you're married to a constant target. I'm a target. They're aiming at me, and if they're aiming at me-"
"They're aiming at me, too.." Bernadine cut him off, and sat up, climbing atop him.