Page 70 of The Teacher

I don’t do anything. My mouth drops open and I am stuck to the spot.

This is a nightmare. This is a nightmare. This is a nightmare.

But I don’t wake up.

This is reality.

Hearing the intrusion into the office, both Skipper and Becky turn to face me. Becky’s mouth transforms into a big grin when she recognizes me.

“Please knock,” she says to me across the room with her smirk widening even more. “We’re busy.”

I ignore her and focus my attention on Skipper. He looks disheveled, shocked at me entering.

“Skipper,” it’s all I can manage to blurb out before I turn around and walk straight out the room and back into the hallway. I don’t even bother to slam the door behind me.

I am in total shock. I can’t even feel my body as I hold onto the wall for support. I can’t even breathe.

This truly is a nightmare.

This can’t be happening.

It’s just like it was eight years ago. The same circumstances. The same feeling.

One sentence runs through my head over and over.

Skipper’s cheated on me. Skipper’s cheated on me. Skipper’s cheated on me.

It’s too much for me to bear. The pain is too real. I want to collapse. My knees buckle and I sink to the floor. Tears rush to my eyes and I want to moan in pain, but no sound comes out of my mouth.

Skipper’s cheated on me. Skipper’s cheated on me. Skipper’s cheated on me.

Someone’s behind me. They’re lifting me back to my feet. I know that touch anywhere. The strength. The muscular hands.

Skipper.

“Get your hands off me,” I growl, shaking my arms away from Skipper’s hold. I fall against the wall, wishing to wake up.

But this is really not a dream.

“Sandy,” he softly whispers. “Sandy.”

But I don’t let him talk. I don’t let him speak. I don’t need to hear his words, his lying pretty words. I’ve seen what he’s done in that room. He can’t take back what he was up to.

Eight years ago. Repeated.

“You lying coward,” I say, my mouth so wet with anger I’m spitting. I can barely get the words out. “You told me. You promised me. Why did I ever trust you? I’m such a stupid idiot. A fool.”

“Sandy, let me talk.”

“You have nothing to say, you’re nothing but a liar. You’ve used me. You’ve taken advantage of me and I welcomed you back. I should’ve thrown you out like garbage. You came back into my life with your smile and your pretty face and gorgeous body and you thought you could just use me. And you did.”

“Please, Sandy,” Skipper mutters. “Let me explain.”

“Fuck you, Skipper. I’m not listening to you anymore. You betrayed me.”

And that’s enough.

I need to get out of here.