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Julia
Acting on Edward’s instructions, I had the moving van he hired meet me at my apartment. Michael was asleep when the movers and I showed up, so of course he was more than a little pissed at me. But lately when wasn’t he? We hardly ever talked without arguing anymore. The tension in our apartment was thick enough to slice with a knife. It was good timing that I was moving out now. Still I couldn’t help but feel very sad about it.
“Was there some reason you couldn’t wait until the afternoon to haul all your junk out of here and make a buncha racket Julia? You know I work until 2AM. Couldn’t you at least allow me eight hours of sleep?”
“I’m sorry Michael, but I figured no matter what time I did it you’d bitch and moan about it. So I decided to make it convenient for me. This isn’t gonna take long anyway. Most of the furniture in the apartment is yours.”
My belongings basically consisted of a bedroom set, some small appliances, law books, photo albums and my clothes. Michael followed me out to the street as the moving men loaded my bed onto the truck.
“Why are you taking your bed over to dick head’s house? And your dresser and shit? You think he’s gonna allow your nasty old stuff in his playboy mansion? Aren’t you gonna be sleeping in his bed with him? And do you really expect him to put your cheap-ass Mr. Coffee maker and your Wal-Mart toaster in his fucking gourmet kitchen? Why are you even taking anything with you? Even your clothes…….won’t you be getting a whole new wardrobe worthy of a billionaire’s baby mama?”
“You know what Michael? I think you’re just jealous. And bitter. I don’t know why you can’t be happy for me. I told you I would help you financially when Edward and I married and I meant it. But for some reason you just want to make me feel bad about myself and my good fortune. I never thought my own brother could be so selfish.”
“And I never thought my own sister could be so blind to how much she’s changed from hanging around with such an amoral asshole. On second thought, you better keep your old stuff for when he ends your phony marriage and kicks your ass out. What do you even see in him beside his big bank account and evidently his even bigger dick?”
“I won’t even dignify that question with an answer Michael. You’re just being gross!”
The movers put the last of my things in the van, raised the ramp and bolted the door. I climbed into my Mercedes and wiped the tears from eyes. Michael looked the car up and down without the slightest attempt to hide the appalled expression on his face.
“So now he’s letting you drive his fancy wheels around huh? That figures!”
“Not exactly…….”
“Not exactly? What do you mean not exactly? What do you call this?”
“This is my car. Edward bought it for me.”
“Your car!! Fuck Julia! Why am I not even surprised?! And you don’t see anything wrong with this picture?”
“No I don’t! You’re not seeing the BIG picture Michael and I’m tired of trying to explain it to you. Your attitude proves you’re just jealous!”
“And you’re just an empty-headed little Barbie doll – wearing her new Barbie wardrobe, driving her new Barbie car. Good-luck with your fucking new life Julia. I hope you and G.I. Joe will be very happy together in your new Barbie penthouse!”
“Don’t you mean Ken? Barbie’s boyfriend is Ken you idiot!”
“I don’t give a shit who Barbie’s fucking!”
I started the car, stepped on the gas and didn’t look back. A new chapter in my life was beginning – with or without Michael’s approval. Fifteen minutes later I drove through the gate of my new home with the movers following closely behind me up the steep driveway. The garage door opened automatically with the remote control and I pulled inside.
Some of Michael’s words hit a nerve. Was he right about Edward not really wanting my old junk in his house. What did I need it for anyway? Another nerve: Was he also right about Edward divorcing me and kicking me out? Did I secretly feel like I needed to hang onto my stuff in the event that that happened? My mind and heart begged me for answers.
I instructed the guys to open the truck and lower the ramp. Then I climbed up into the back and selected only eight boxes for them to carry inside: Four boxes of clothes and shoes, and four boxes of personal items like books, photos and cherished childhood memorabilia.
“Just set that stuff in the hallway. That’ll be fine. Thanks so much for your help guys.”
Then I gave them an extremely large tip, courtesy of Edward.
“Where do you want us to put the rest of your things Ma’am?”
“I would like the rest of the stuff to be taken over to the Domestic Violence Thrift Shop on Grant Avenue please. Can you do that for me? Do you guys know where that is?”
“Yes Ma’am. We’ll be happy to deliver everything there for you. No problem. We just need a signature on this invoice.”
After I signed the paperwork, I watched the movers head back down the hill in their van and opened the gate for them to drive out. I felt good about my decision to give my stuff away to charity. I needed a clean start, and more importantly, I needed to believe in Edward.
When I went inside the house Edward shouted to me from his office.
“Hey Julia! I’m almost done here. Tell the movers I’ll be out in a minute to oversee everything!”
