LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN

Chapter one

Trisha stared in the mirror for what seemed like ages, something she hadn't done in a while. For a few minutes, she didn't recognize herself, but it was certainly her. Her large owlish hazel eyes, though now filled with tears, her straight and pointed nose, presently red and stuffy, the hair she had been dying from blonde to brunette since four years ago left uncombed for days and the extra layer of skin on her cheeks. It was no wonder that she didn't recognize herself. With a sniffle, she gave a pathetic laughter, immediately noticing the piece of steak stuck in her teeth from dinner. Realizing how pathetic she must have looked, her face morphed into a frown and she sunk onto the bathroom floor in tears. Only hours ago, her life was perfect, only hours ago she had it all. Like a movie, her mind played back the pictures of what happened all over again for the umpteenth time.

She was halfway under the bed looking for her favorite scrunchie. She had learnt long ago that if something ever went missing in the room, under the bed was the first place to check.
Just as she laid her eyes on it, she heard kyle's footsteps.
"Do you have a moment?" He asked casually, standing only few feets away from their bed.
"Uh, sure what's up?" She replied, stretching her hand further under the bed to reach her most priced hair accessory. "I just... need to get ....this, yes!!" Sliding out with a triumphant look on her face, she shoved her scrunchie in front of her husband's face with a huge smile.

Crinkling his nose, he took a few steps back, seemingly unfazed by his wife's excitement. Loosening his tie, he gestured towards the lone sofa in the corner of the bedroom. "Sit, we need to talk."

Glancing at the sofa, she half frowned. She never ever sat on the sofa, she had always disliked the piece of furniture and they had kept it only because of its sentimental value to kyle, it used to belong to his father. Smiling sweetly at the love of her life, she shook her head.
" I'm all ears dearie"
Brushing his hand through his thick dark hair, he stared at her pointedly, " Trust me, you need to sit down."
For the first time since he stepped in, she noticed that he looked pretty nervous.

It must be something really bad, maybe he's lost his job... again.
But that wasn't too much of a problem, he lost his job pretty often, there was always a petty boss, or too much workload, or a new project he wasn't being allowed to work on. However , thanks to her inheritance they were able to live pretty well with both of them not working. She had tried to talk him into opening a store instead of working at an office, but he always declined. Too much bruise for his ego probably, but she didn't mind. She sat on the sofa, shivering a bit, it was too close to the air conditioner, and the night gown she had on barely reached her knees, there were a few holes here and there showing signs of overuse, but it was comfortable.
She could feel kyle's eyes on her, as if assessing her every move, the scrutiny made her a little uncomfortable and so she flashed him another sweet smile, completely unaware of the mischievous steak stuck smugly in her front teeth.

He cringed inwardly again, and dipped his hand in his pockets. Averting his gaze from hers. It seemed like he wasn't going to talk, so she decided to ask.
" Is everything okay dearie?"
Without looking at her, he nodded his head.
Deciding to take the bull by the horns, she pressed further
"Everything okay at work?"
"Yes, work is fine." He replied smoothly
"Then what is it sweetheart?" She asked starting to get worried.
"I want a divorce" he said casually looking her straight in the eye

Everything seemed to pause for a second, she was stunned, not trusting her hearing skills anymore, she searched his face for a sign that she heard wrong. He stared back at her blankly, seemingly calm, like he had been planning this for a while. She felt chills run down her spine, this time not from cold but from fear.
"Wh..why? Did... did i do something wrong?" Her voice was barely a whisper and it was almost as though she was asking her self and not him. For a moment, a look of pity settled on his face.
"You didn't do anything trisha, i just don't love you anymore." He said solemnly.

"We're married kyle," she reminded him, her voice now shaky threatening to break into sobs
"We've been married for six years, we have a child, a beautiful dau..daughter" at the last word her voice gave in to sobs.
He stared at her, calmly, as though she was an alien he was to inspect. Making no attempt to reply or even come closer to her.
At this point she was convinced kyle had lost his mind. Was he traumatized? Had he started doing drugs? But he looked fine, and if she was being honest he looked finer than he had ever looked since they lost their son two years ago.

Like a knife to an already bleeding heart the thought struck her.
"Is there someone else?" She asked fully into tears at this point.
His face flushed cheery red, and for an instant a guilty look passed his face.
"No," he replied, "not yet"
She found that hard to believe, he was all she had known and he suddenly claimed not to love her anymore. How was he going to survive? His salary paid peanuts, they'd both been depending largely on the trust fund left to her by her parents. He couldn't even cook rice, or do his laundry himself. How was he going to survive? Looking into his eyes however, she knew he was going to be just fine without her, he had been planning this while she slept and woke up with him everyday.
" I packed a small bag for tonight, I'll come get the rest of my stuff by the weekend" he said, as though reciting a poem.
At this point she was willing to beg, grovel, wail, do anything to make him stay, she got up from the sofa she disliked so much and walked up to him, she could read the dread in his face with each step she took closer, and when she hugged him, staining the shirt she had bought him last Christmas with her tears, he left his arms at his side, making no attempt to hug her back. She stood holding him for what seemed like hours crying loudly and mumbling, before finally releasing him. Looking up at the man she had loved all her life, she asked in tears "What will I tell Rosa when she wakes up tomorrow and asks of you?"

"Tell her i went on a business trip" he replied, stunning her with his calmness about everything.

And now here she was hours later, on the cold bathroom floor, in tears, considering slitting her wrists or overdosing on her painkillers. But then Rosa would be left all alone.
She dozed off on the floor, woke up at 2am, half frozen and limped to their bed, now her bed, crying herself to sleep, not at all anticipating the day ahead.