Nyla started her new life by moving four towns over. Even before being kicked out of the mansion, she had prepared her plans. She resigned properly from her work, she looked for a new kindergarten center to work for and an affordable apartment near it. She also applied for a new number since she moved to a new city and had the old number canceled.
Good thing James never wanted her to update her name. He said he will divorce her anyway so it will be a waste of time for her. He's right.
Now, she left everything behind. She just has her father's surname, but her father is no longer her parent. She's a full orphan now. How sad.
Good thing so far, the circumstances are being nice to her. Maybe the universe took pity on her.
There was a co-teacher in her new work who seemed to take a liking to her. His name is Jacques Curt. A fairly handsome guy, with a bit of a wacky side (maybe because he deals with children), a very friendly and caring person.
After a year of working at the center, Nyla and Jacques had gotten close and eventually went steady.
Their life as lovers started great. Nyla likes the fact that they are always together. Soon Jacques suggested they live together. After 5 months, she moved in with him.
Life with Jacques was great. He is a good partner. At least at first...
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5 months into living together...
Nyla went home first. Again.
Recently, Jacques always has a reason to be away early from work but comes home late. Whether it be going out with friends, visiting his family, looking for a new apartment... Name it. He probably exhausted all the creative juices in his body making up excuses. It's been 2 months.
He's also getting rude. He looked stressed... anxious. He doesn't like being questioned. He prefers not to talk to her. But he's definitely worried about something.
A weird familiar feeling of impending abandonment washed over her.
She put down her bag on the shelf. She looked around the house. She estimates the seemingly small number of her personal belongings.
'If I'm going to be abandoned again, I probably need just two pieces of luggage. Like the first time. Like always…'
True. When she moved out of her father's home. She only had two pieces of luggage. When she got kicked out of James' mansion, these two pieces of luggage went out with her. Come to think of it. The luggage and her car are the only things constant in her life. Well, aside from being abandoned by all the people she loves, that is.
She prepared dinner for two. She ate alone. Her thoughts were filled with different scenarios.
'Will he break up with me?'
'Am I not good enough?'
'Am I a bother to him now?'
'Where did I go wrong?'
She heard the sound of the door knob being opened with the clanking of different other keys. Jacques is home.
She stood up and went to him to serve him as usual. She took off his coat, gave him his indoor slippers, and took his bag from him. He smelled of alcohol.
"Have you eaten dinner yet?" She asked.
"What do you think?" He spat back.
How will she know the answer to something she asked...?
"Ahmm... would you like some black coffee then? Since you seemed to have had a few drinks."
All of a sudden she felt a swift heavy thing slap across her face. Her head swung to the side. She heard ringing in her ears. She realized she was slapped. She fell on the floor, still wondering what happened. She felt a sharp pain, her ankle was twisted a bit when she fell.
"I'm sorry...". Her instinctive obedience kicked in. She doesn't know what she did wrong but she has to appease him.
This was how she managed since she was a kid when his father would have a sudden outburst of anger towards her. The usual reason is that she looks like her mother. That's it. That's why he hates her.
'What must I do? What must I do?' She's still thinking. It seems her nightmare was about to begin.
"You think you have the right to question me? We're not married! You're just a pest here!"
His words hurt. She looked up and saw his red face. Probably due to anger. Probably because he was drunk.
"Hey, let's talk about this properly tomorrow. You must be tired. I mean, for now, ahmm you want me to draw you a warm bath? Please don't be mad anymore. I'm sorry. I was wrong." She pleaded as she struggled to stand from being slumped on the floor.
He swayed walking to their bedroom. He started pushing things, opening wardrobes, and cabinets and shouting nonsensical words about overdue and interest. Nyla cannot understand what he is going through.
Finally, he saw one of her luggage and started flipping it. A few of her clothes came out along with a ring box.
He picked it up and looked at it.
"Huh! You're still hung up on your ex-husband?!"
"N—no, I just didn't have time to dispose of it when I was kicked out hurriedly then. Please, it's not like that. I moved four towns over to be far away from him and my father. Please, don't think of it like that." She pleaded.
And that day, she knew how frail her body was when she found herself being hit, swung, pushed, and pulled left and right until she lost consciousness and everything went black...