The stories that killed their writer

Chapter 19: A frustrated woman

Lana's POV

I opened my eyes and stretched a bit. I yawned. I turned a bit in bed and noticed the spot next to me was empty.

I sat up. "Mel?" But she was nowhere to be found. I got up and walked to the closet, I took my clothes out for the day and got dressed in them. I then walked to the bathroom to get my hair done before going downstairs.

I slowly entered the kitchen and noticed Melody sitting at the table. She was eating breakfast: a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I took my cereal and a bowl before sitting down in front of her. I noticed the plates of dinner, she had made for us, were still on the table. Though, hers was empty...

"Where were you?"

I looked at her. "I was in bed, I - "

"Last night," She interrupted. "You left the house, where were you?"

I looked at my bowl and filled it with cereal. "I was out," I then added milk. "I needed to think."

"On your own?"

I looked at her and noticed her facial expression. She was clearly not amused, she was irritated and frustrated. And I didn't understand that. "Yes, why?"

She leaned closer, she frowned as if she was trying to look into my mind. "You're afraid of darkness, you'd never go out on your own," She paused. "Who was with you?"

I glanced at her before looking back at my bowl of cereal. "I was upset after our fight so I went for a walk."

"For 2 hours?"

I looked at her again.

"You were gone for 2 hours," She frowned more, seemingly getting more frustrated. "Where were you?"

I looked at my bowl of cereal again, realizing I was stuck here. What could I possibly say that would make this situation less bad? Anything I say, she'd hate.

"Well?"

I looked at her. "I went out to the snack bar and ate there, to settle my thoughts and mind." Why was I lying? It occurred to me that I really didn't want to talk about Dr.Hansen. Stephanie... Why not?

"Did it help to settle your thoughts?"

I nodded.

"Oh really?" She nodded. "What did you conclude?"

I stopped eating and looked at her. I wanted her to really hear me, I wanted her to really see I was serious about this. "You want me to quit my job but I - "

"Your job?" She huffed. "Your hobby, I'd say."

I gulped, trying to swallow any sadness her statement brought. "You want me to quit my job but I don't," I gulped again. "I'm never quitting a job I want to do, I love doing it, I want to do it, it's my passion, it's me," I then nodded as if only agreeing right now with what I said. "So I'm not going to the firm to quit my job."

Melody wasn't happy with what I was saying. She got up and left the house.

I let out a breath before returning to my breakfast.

"Wow."

I turned around and smiled.

"Finally you stood up to her," Wednesday said before walking to me and sitting down at the table with me. "This is a big step forward."

I smiled a bit before looking down. "I don't know..."

"It is," I looked up and saw Bree seated at the table too. She smiled shyly at me. "That was very brave."

"Yep," Wednesday agreed with Bree. "Well done, author."

I smiled a bit before it disappeared entirely. "I think I made a mistake," I looked up at them and saw Wednesday nod already. "I think I'm cheating on my wife..."

__________________________

Third person's POV

Melody slammed her car door before walking to the firm. She entered and walked to the receptionist. "Isaac Gibson."

The receptionist glanced at Melody before looking at her computer again. "He's in a meeting now, do you have an appointment?" She looked at Melody again.

Melody groaned. "I need to speak to him."

"He's in a meeting, I'm sorry..."

Melody nodded before walking into the firm more. "Hey!" She heard the receptionist call out to her but she ignored her.

Melody walked through the offices before arriving at the office of Isaac. She entered, without knocking, and saw he was in a meeting with Chelsea and a man she didn't know.

"Melody?" Chelsea said as she got up. She walked to her. "Is everything alright?" She said softer.

Melody ignored Chelsea and looked at Isaac. "Lana quits."

"What?" Chelsea and Isaac exclaimed.

"But she said she wanted to continue, she had ideas for a new novel," Isaac went on. "She doesn't quit."

"Yes, she does."

Chelsea sensed that this conversation was going to take some time and could get heated, so she looked at the man. "We'll continue this meeting some other time."

"Yes," The man got up. "I think so too." He then eyed Melody before leaving the office.

Isaac sighed before looking at Melody. "Lana wants to write, let her. She's amazing at it."

"It's a hobby of hers, she needs a job." Melody went on.

"It is her job to write novels," Chelsea said. "She gets paid for it."

Melody huffed. "I want my wife to work a job with regular hours and a stable income. This 'job' you two offer here isn't that."

"But it is what Lana wants." Chelsea said, gaining Melody's attention.

"Lana wants to write, then so be it," Melody said, raising her voice slightly. "She can write in her free time, but she will get a REAL job."

Chelsea looked at Isaac, they exchanged a look. They were certain: something had happened at that house...

"So hereby, Lana quits." Melody then left without waiting for their response.

Chelsea went through her hair with her hand before looking at Isaac. "What was that?"

Isaac let out a deep breath before sitting down at his desk. "A woman who's clearly frustrated..." He sighed. "I feel so bad for Lana," He looked at Chelsea. "All she wants is to write."

Chelsea nodded slowly before sitting down on Isaac's desk. "You'd expect a wife to support her partner..." She sighed. "I hope Lana will be able to still write and work for us."

Isaac nodded. "We have to call Lana," He then took his office phone. He waited and waited until Lana answered the phone. "Lana," He paused. "We have to meet, urgently."