separation [a short story]

two

separation
| two: questions |

After a moment of silence, I ask, "Who is she?" as tears build in my eyes. I turn the phone off and place it back down on the table. "Who is she, Drew?!" I raise my voice.

"Ashlyn-"

"Have you really been cheating on me?" I look him in the eye to only see that he's not looking at me. He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. "Answer me Drew!"

"Yes!" He exclaims.

"For how long?"

"Three months." I look at him with my eyes widening at the information.

"Why?" My voice cracks. Once again, I don't get a reply. "Why would you do this to me? To our family?"

"I don't know." He replies.

"Búllshît!" I scream. He finally looks at me and notices the tears streaming down my face. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Of course not!" He yells back at me.

"Then why the hell are you having sex with someone that isn't me?!"

"Mommy?" A small voice enters. We both look towards the kitchen doorway to see Adelaide standing there, her pink pajamas clinging to her small body with her favorite stuffed animal in her grasp.

"What's wrong, Addy?" I ask my three year old daughter, wiping my flushed cheeks in hopes she doesn't see my continuous tears.

"Why are you and Daddy yelling?" She pulls her stuffed bunny closer to her and rubs her eye with her small fist.

"I'm sorry, baby." I approach her and crouch down to her level. "Did we wake you up?" Adelaide nods and wraps her arms around my neck. I scoop her up and bring her back upstairs to her room. By the time I reach her princess themed room, she's already fallen back asleep. I cover her body with her comforter and place a quick kiss to her forehead, closing the door behind me as I leave.

I walk back into the kitchen to see Drew leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. I sigh and rub at my forehead.

"I don't want you to stay here."