Sin and Soul

The world kept spinning

The water from the faucet ran clear and hot. Steam filled the large bathroom, making the all black decor seem ominous. Nirvana removed her clothing slowly. Her shoulders aching. She wiped away the fog from the mirror and inspected her body. Hickies and red bruises covered her from her rib cage to her thighs. Spreading and patterned like flowers. A beautiful contrast against her even brown complexion.

Kevin's Hart played in the background on repeat. She turned off the water and grabbed vials of rose water, essiential oils and a box of epsom salt. After dumping the contents in her bath she eased herself into the still and steaming liquid.

Twenty minutes later a knock at the bathroom door woke her from the sleep she'd drifted into.
"Yes?" She said.

Bryan opened the door. "Are we still going to talk?" He asked quietly.

"There's nothing to be said. The courts said I can't put you out. You obviously refuse to sign papers. And yet you're still cheating to this day. But now so am I. So I'd say you've gotten a pretty good deal." She flashed a lazy smile at him.

"I'm not still cheating, I swear. Those other times I was young and stupid that's it!" His voice trembled.

"The last time was just three months ago. Are you telling me that after seven years and three months you've had an epiphany?" She lazily lifted a smooth leg above the bubbles, her manicured hand dragging sea sponge from her ankle back into the suds. Bryan stared. His wife had gone. No longer sweet, battered, and familiar. No this woman before him was cold. Calculated and sensual. She was foreign and desirable in her closed demeanor. His groin ached. Her long raven colored hair shone and dripped with water droplets. He had to look away, his head was spinning.
"What incense is that?" He asked trying to change the conversation.

Nirvana glanced at him, the light of humor in her cat like eyes. "You see that smudge stick?" She pointed to the counter through the haze of steam and smoke.

"Oh, you're burning sage?" He asked, now genuinely curious.

Her laugh was like petals falling on still water, so soft and lulling.

"It's white sage and marijuana."

That would explain his suddem diziness and desires.  "That's...um..okay. What happened to the weed free rule you had."

Her eyes narrowed and the sense of tension returned.

"Shit changes. Doesn't it?" She reached for the glass of brandy sitting on the edge of the tub.

Bryan watched her down the glass and walked away. How did this happen? How did he get here? He walked into the living room. The floor to ceiling window stretched the length of the room. The ocean outside was gray and disturbed. Waves crashing against shore as black clouds crept near on the horizon. His phone rang. "Hello?" His voice cracked a little.

"Hey baby, I thought you were mad at me or something" a female voice cooed.

"How the fuck did you get this number?!" He hissed.

"Baby dont be like that! Please! I haven't heard from you in months! I really missed you!"

"Fuck you! You ruined my life you crazy ass bitch!"

"Don't act like that, PLEASE BRYAN!"

Bryan slammed the smartphone into the support beam. He glanced out the window, Nirvana's singing drifted down the stairs. The storm had reached the shore. Clouds thundering and lit blue by passing lights. The ocean churned violently, a pitch black monster. Just like his heart. But the world kept spinning.