Fifty Reasons to Stay (Book Three)

Chapter Twelve

07.12
Regret to inform you that your current position with Stack Editing service has been filled. We are giving you a two week's notice to start looking for another job.
Apologies,
Robert Stack, CEO

A month after Leo left me I lost my job. We hadn't spoken in weeks since he'd beaten me. I could've sent him to jail but, I wouldn't do that to him. Mikey demanded to know what happened. He didn't buy me accidentally falling, so I told him the truth.
Just a day after our wedding anniversary he did this to me. I spent a lot of time crying, but I had to be strong for the kids.
I didn't call him asking for money, in fact my salary provided until the middle of July when it ran out and I was jobless, miles behind on bills. Swallowing my pride, I dialed his number and quickly told him I needed money. I felt ashamed. But he didn't take it that way. He said "Of course, how much?" And transferred it immediately.
I was incredibly grateful for the help he provided, and that night he called me again, just to talk.
And he called again two days after that, the week after, and twice in the middle of August.

I wasn't really sure how to feel about him being with Karai, but who was I to say anything- he could do whatever he wanted to. Karai was beautiful and kept up with her body over the years. I lost whatever goodness I had left over the summer.
Unintentionally I dropped twenty-five pounds.
Don't think I was trying to, either. It happens sometimes.
~~
You ever hear that song on the radio that used to be really important to you, and now it just reminds you of something you'd rather not think about?

Two days after Leo took Andrew back to New York, I took the baby to the store, intending to really stock up thanks to Leo's latest money transfer. I made a big list of items and was even planning on buying a few outfits for myself, because I needed it.

I decided to shop for myself first, and scanned through the clothing racks. And then that stupid ten year old song started playing overhead. What happened to modern day hits?
Ed Sheeran's voice filled the air and I cringed. I used to love the song Thinking Out Loud, because it became popular when Leo and I first started dating, and just about every time I turned on the radio it was playing. So the song reminded me of him terribly.

Oh god, just going back and thinking about 23 year old me made me cringe. I remember performing into a fake microphone when Mikey wasn't home in front of the mirror, singing my favorite lines:
People fall in love in mysterious ways,
maybe just the touch of a hand
Well me, I fall in love with you every single day
And my heart would do backflips as I grinned like an idiot and hugged my phone.

Or after we married and it'd come on and he'd sing it while he played the piano and Jesus it was as if angels and God himself came down to serenade me.

But now as I listened to it in the store, all I could think about was how silly I'd been back then.
I know he had feelings for me 10 years ago but he must've thought I was such a dork! No wonder he didn't want to tell anyone about us.
I was the gap toothed nerd.

And then, another song came on. "No, no noooooooooo.." I covered my ears for a second. The lady across the aisle looked at me like I was crazy. I smiled lightly and went in the opposite direction.
Of course our song had to play.

Out of the millions of songs that exist, Mr Radio man had to go and play
Twenty
One
Pilots'

cover of
Can't Help Falling in Love with You.

Would it have killed them to play at least a different cover?!

I went into the frozen food area, trying not to think. But all I could see was us on that Massachusetts beach, under the stars, and him singing softly for me.