AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Raven
Tim stands in front of me, his eyes cold and distant. “I don’t understand why you have a problem with me working late? You knew when I took the promotion I wouldn’t have a set schedule. Now, suddenly, you’re questioning me?”
It isn’t too much to ask for my soon-to-be husband to spend a little time with me. Tim has been working late every night for the last two months since he received his promotion, and when he took it, I didn’t expect to be sleeping and eating by myself every night. Our life before the new job was great, but now, it’s lackluster. I gave him grace to get in tune with his new role, but now it’s becoming a hassle. Should I even be planning a wedding at this point? Why go into a marriage with doubts and red flags all over the place?
“We’re getting married in three weeks, Tim. You haven’t touched me in two months. How do you think that makes me feel? Do you not find me attractive anymore?”
Maybe I’m being ridiculous. Is going two months without sex normal? We have never gone this long. Hell, before this, we never went more than three days without it, so I’m freaking out here. A healthy sex life is important and I didn’t want to marry someone who won’t give me what I need.
Tim shakes his head. “Raven, you’re being ridiculous. It’s stressful. By the time I get home, all I want to do is take a shower and pass out. Stop acting like I’m out cheating on you.”
It has crossed my mind. Does he even think about me anymore? Or is his job and career the only thing on his mind now? I refuse to eat and sleep alone every night. I deserve better.
“You didn’t answer my question. I’m standing here as your future wife asking you if you find me attractive and instead of saying of course, you make it about work. This is the problem. All you think about is that damn job. I get that you don’t have a set schedule, but it’s been every night, baby. Every. Single. Night.”
“Listen, I’m not gonna quit my job just because you’re lonely, okay. You are being ridiculous and I’m done listening to it.”
This is not how I want to start a marriage, but I didn’t have the balls to call it off. The way he’s acting right now does not bode well for our future. If he can’t understand my side in this, maybe we’re a lost cause. I’ve been nothing but supportive of his career over the years, but there comes a point where I deserve his time too. And no matter what, I shouldn’t have to beg for him to spend time with me. I’m not asking him to take a week off from work. I just want him to come home, have a nice dinner, watch a movie and fuck my brains out. Is that too much to ask for? Especially from someone I’m weeks away from saying ‘I do’ to?
“If you think I’m going to marry you while you’re acting like this, you’re wrong. You treat me like a roommate, not your future wife. I will not spend the rest of my life begging for your attention.”
Tim just stares at me, not saying a word, but his jaw clenched. When he runs his fingers through his hair, and paces, I know this is about to get worse. The conversation is supposed to bring things to his attention, but he isn’t taking into consideration my feelings.
“It looks like you should pack your things and get out. The wedding is off. Now, I need to get some sleep before work tomorrow, but I’ll go to a hotel until you’re gone.”
My stomach drops. He’s serious. I sprint after him, clutching his arm before he walks out of the door. “Is it easy for you to just let me go? Did you ever love me?”
His eyes search mine for a moment, and he slams the front door shut behind him.
I don’t know what to do. A decade down the drain, and nothing to show for it but a broken heart. How could I have been so stupid? The signs have been there for months. We used to do everything together, and he couldn’t keep his hands off of me, and now it’s like trying to bribe him just to touch me. How can anyone live like that? Humans have needs, and partners are supposed to reciprocate that.
What the fuck am I going to do now? The house isn’t in my name and neither is the car. I don’t have a job, because that’s how Tim wanted things. He is old-fashioned and didn’t want me to work. At first, it was great, but it became too much to handle. I understand his desire to provide for me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t contribute. Not that I have to worry about that anymore.
Tears well up in my eyes, and my lower lip trembles. I sink to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees, and let out a sob. This can't be happening. How could it end like this? How could he just walk out on me? This wasn’t supposed to turn into a huge relationship ending fight, but one thing is for certain, if he can cast me out that fast, he didn’t deserve to be my husband.
I stare at the door, heart heavy with sadness and regret, wanting to believe we can make it through anything, but it’s over. It’s like a living nightmare. How can I have been so wrong about him? I must have underestimated the power of his ambition.
Standing alone in the house, tears stream down my face. The long nights at the office and the too-short hours spent together was bringing our relationship down. This conversation didn’t fix anything and if this is how he handles me voicing my concerns, maybe it is best that it’s over. I didn’t want to be unhappy for the rest of my life if he couldn’t fix his issues, but now none of that matters. The wedding is off and I need somewhere to go. The only person I can call is my brother, Ryan.
He will have plenty to say about this, considering he never liked Tim, anyway. Maybe I should have listened to him when he tried to tell me that a man that refused to let me work is a bad sign. Young and in love, naiveness at its finest. People make mistakes, hell I’ve made a few myself, but at least this happened before we got married. There is a bright side.
With a heavy heart, I reach for the phone and dial his number. I become silent on the other end as he answers.
“Hey, sis. What’s going on?”
I choke my voice up. “I need you to come get me.”
“Be there in twenty.”
Numbly, I rise to my feet, and hurriedly pack my things, throwing them into a suitcase. Not all of my items will fit, so I place what I can inside and will replace the rest when I get to Grapevine. I zip up the suitcase and take one last look around the bedroom. My eyes blur as I go down the stairs, feet sinking into the plush carpets. This is it: the end of our future together.
I wipe away my tears and walk outside, putting my suitcase into Ryan’s car.
It’s time to take a stand for my happiness and walk away from a situation that is no longer good for me. Though it might be a difficult journey, I’m determined to start over.
One thing the last decade has taught me is I can’t be afraid to speak my mind, especially when I know my worth. Tim might not have recognized it, but I sure the fuck do. So even though I am going back to Grapevine with a broken heart and nothing to show for the last ten years, at least I know my worth.
