Since I Don't Have You (Guns N' Roses - Duff McKagan)

Chapter Ten

About two hours passed by and there was no sign of Duff, not even outside the house. I had no idea where he went and whether he was coming back, but I was worried about him. Because of the question I asked him. I didn't mean anything bad by the question, I sincerely wanted to know. Not to use it against him, not to argue about it, but to see if he was alright now. To see if he had gotten help or was no longer feeling as low as he may have felt. So by him just storming off like he did, I was genuinely worried.

Hearing the phone ring down the stairs, I rushed down in my pyjamas and ran into the kitchen to pick it up.

"Hello?" I answered the phone.

'Shelia, it's me - Izz.' Izzy spoke on the other end. 'How is it going, how are the kids?' He asked.

I couldn't make out whether he was happy or not, so I just answered his question for now. "Hey Izz, they were great. Both have been in bed for hours now, you have nothing to worry about." I reassured him. "How are things?" I asked.

I heard Izzy exhale on the other end. 'It's fucked, Shell. I seriously don't know what to do anymore.'

That made my heart sink, just hearing how he sounded and how upset he would have been. "Why? What's happened, Izz?" I ask, worrying over him now.

'Nothing, Shell. Ali, she won't even look at me, let alone touch me. So far, she has spent more time away from me than being with me.' Izzy sounded absolutely devastated. 'I don't know what I've done to deserve any of this. I've been a good husband and father, why is she treating me this way?' He asked, trying to keep strong as he spoke.

"I don't know, Izz. I know you don't deserve to be treated the way she has been treating you." I leaned against the bench. "You deserve to be loved, not pushed aside."

'I just don't know what to fucking do. I do everything to try and help around the house, I treat her the way any woman should be treated. I bring her flowers, I compliment her, I fucking love her with all of my heart and this is what I get in return?' Izzy's voice broke. 'I just don't understand Shell. What did I fucking do?'

I wanted to hug him, but I couldn't do that when we were talking over the phone.

'I brought her here so we could have a good time together and obviously work out whatever the issue is. But she doesn't want me, Shell. She won't even touch me with a ten foot fucking pole.' He croaked.

"I really don't know what to say, Izz. You heard how she spoke to me today, I honestly don't have a clue. I wished I could help you." I hop up onto the bench.

'She had no fucking right to talk to you like that.' Izzy hissed. 'She's got a problem with you and me, fuck, who doesn't she have a problem with?' Izzy sounded like he was starting to get angry. 'Neither of us deserve to be treated like shit, I mean you were just trying to be a good friend. I? I've been her loving husband for so long, maybe I should just fucking stop.'

"Is she near you?" I decided to ask.

'Nope, I don't even know where the fuck she is. I've called her over and over and she's not answering.' Izzy sounded pissed off now. 'I mean, I didn't bring her here so she could fuck off. If I knew she was gonna do that, I wouldn't have fucking taken her anywhere.'

"I know, Izz." I nodded, continuing to hold the phone to my ear.

'You know what, if I knew this was gonna happen. I still would have went away for the night.' Izzy confirmed.

"Yeah?" I questioned.

'Yeah and I would've taken you with me, considering you are the only woman in my life - aside from my Mom that genuinely appreciates me and loves me. My wife? She couldn't care less.'