What's Next?

The Glass Menagerie

Jess woke up to an empty bed; all that was there was a note on the bedside table. Turning on the lamp, he flinched back as the light brought on a pounding headache. Jess read the note:

Jess,

I've decided to sleep somewhere else tonight. The girls are with me. Call me so I know you're awake and not out at a bar somewhere. And by the way, I fucking hate you.

-Rory

Suddenly, the events of the previous night came back to him. "Damnit," Remembering what he had said, Jess wished he'd never gotten so rough. He grabbed his cell and dialed Rory up.

"Hello," The sound of a hurt and confused woman answered the phone.

"Rory, I'm sorry," He knew it was lame to answer that way.

Rory took a breath, "Sleep well?" This dumb small talk was not what the Mariano's did, but Rory was still frustrated.

"Fine. But, I've got his pounding headache,"

"I wonder why," Rory's voice was detached. "I guess you got my note,"

"Yeah,"

Rory didn't reply immediately, "Alright. Don't expect me to come back home for a while,"

"Where are you?" Jess began getting curious.

"Somewhere else," She answered, purposely trying to avoid Jess's question. It was terrible, but a small part of her wanted him to be worried and jealous.

Jess sighed and knew what Rory was doing, "I have a right to know where you took our kids," Jess retaliated. "You can't just take them away, Rory."

There were a momentary silence and a drawn-out yawn heard from the other end of the line before Rory responded, "I was in a dangerous situation last night; I was forced to bring the girls elsewhere," Her calm composure completely deflated as she hung up the phone. Pretty soon, Rory was a sobbing mess of tears.

"Guess that didn't go well, did it?" A soft, familiar voice came from the hallway.

"Not really," Rory blushed in embarrassment. "Thank you for letting me and the girls stay the night, Lane."

"No problem, Rory. Anything for you," Lane hugged her best friend tightly.

"Momma," Rosalyn ran up to her mom. "Where daddy?"

Rory looked up to Lane who slightly shrugged, "Honey, daddy is away," She didn't know how to tell her young toddler that her dad was at home with a hangover.

"Want daddy," She whined, tears welling up in her eyes.

Rory attempted to pick Rosalyn up but she pushed away, "No! Want daddy,"

Rory sighed as she knew she had to go back home.

Jess turned his head as he saw Rory walk in without the girls.

"Where are the-"

"They're with Lane," Rory answered, knowing what he was going to ask. 

Jess nodded without saying anything. His eyes are visibly red and he looked exhausted. 

"Feeling better?" Rory asked in a monotone voice; she was really worried for Jess but did not want him to know that. 

Jess nodded again, "I am so sorry, Rory," he got up and went to hug her. "for doing this to you." 

A feeling of empathy shot through her body when she saw how genuine Jess was looking. Rory longed to hug him, forget what happened and start anew. But, she knew that was not appropriate. Jess messed up. And she wanted to make sure he would never do that again. 

"Don't do this," Jess pleaded when Rory backed away from his hug. "I said I was sorry and I meant that. I swear, Rory!" Tears were now flowing down his face. "I never meant to hurt you, damnit!" This outward expression of emotion was not something Jess typically did unless he was really feeling true pain. 

Rory felt her own eyes welling up, she didn't say anything. 

"I hurt you, I swore that I would never do that. I broke a promise. I'm so stupid. I am so..." He stopped to rub his hands over his eyes in an attempt not to start crying again. 

Rory hugged him tightly, "I forgive you," She said and it surprised the both of them. "I forgive you because that is what married people do. We forgive things that can be fixed. I love you, Jess. I love you too much to let this ruin our marriage." 

Jess sobbed into her chest, "I don't deserve you."

Rory wiped the tears that were sprinkled on his cheeks, "I trust that you are sorry and that this will never happen again."

Jess knew he would never do that to the woman he loved ever again. 

An Ending Note:

Thank you, everyone, for reading. I want to disclose some information here. It was not my intention to try and justify abuse in a marriage. My story had Jess get a little too drunk and make a mistake, not someone who keeps on drinking and acting like that to his wife every day. I was also not trying to portray Jess as a character that should be forgiven just because he is in a marriage. This was not meant to glorify substance abuse or domestic violence. Forgiveness is not a thing all couples should do if they feel threatened or violated. If a marriage is going wrong and there is abuse, they should try to get OUT of the relationship, not stay just to "make it work." I am sorry if anyone got the idea that I was making light of a tough situation or if it triggered anyone.