Between The Brackets

ONE

"D-i-v-o-r-c-e. Divorce."   

Demi took a sip of water, using her long fingernails to scratch the parts of her scalp not hidden by her neatly plaited cornrows, lightly.  

I don't have a class to teach until the next period so I'm at the teachers lounge with a few other members of staff. Demi kind of said it out loud and it earned me a few interested looks. Now, they're all going to look away and pretend they aren't listening. Crap.

 "That's not the solution to everything." I whispered hoarsely.

"Who says?" She placed the water bottle on her desk. 

"Me. I mean, we haven't even had a proper conversation since what took place." I explained. 

She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and looked at me softly. "What's stopping you?"  

"There's nothing to say." I murmured.

She puffed out air from her mouth. "You're stressing yourself honey. You file a divorce, get half his money and Timi. Move on with life, after all, he started it." She said.

I moved her hand off my shoulder. "Timi is not growing up without his father." I said sternly.  

"Fine." She put her hands up. "You may not like this but you can get a separation. You'll still live in the same house as a normal family but everything is split into your half and his, don't cross boundaries."   

"May nobody tell you that in your life." I glared at her.  

She shrugged. "I tried."  

Not that it was any help at all. 

"What did you do about your sister?" she asked, her thick brows furrowed in thought.  

I shrugged. "Nothing. She just decided to pack up and leave on her own. I didn't make her feel bad or anything."  

She pointed her index finger at me. "You're good. If it was me, I would have lost it the moment I saw them and beat the crap out of them both." 

Those lines seemed very familiar. In reality, they're worthless because when it happens to you, you become absolutely speechless. 

"I don't know what to do." I pouted.

"Divorce."   

Almost everyone listening chorused causing a scowl to appear on my face. Can't these people ever mind their business? Well that would be impossible because right after the hair salon and market, the teachers' lounge is the best source of gist.

"Thank you all for eavesdropping." I announced. Thank God only six teachers are free right now. What's the difference though? A teachers' lounge is practically the internet; once something gets out, it can never be completely erased.   

"This one time he cheated on you—and you don't even know if it's a usual thing—if you let go, he's going to keep bringing women to your house." Justina voices her thoughts.

Some people are so annoying. Who said he brought a woman to my house now?  Wait. Who said this isn't the first time he's slept with someone else? My jaw was clenched at an angle as I heard more and more of their unwanted opinions.

"It's not always like that." Austin rolled his eyes. "When last did you two have sex? You obviously go home tired and he suddenly feels like he needs that and makes bad decisions." Defender of the men of mankind.  

Abigail glared at him. "He still cheated on her, there's no justification for that."  

"I'm just saying it as it is." He argued.