Read Online I Love My Side of the Story by Sabrina Lacey - Free Book Online Page A

THE
FUCK!”
    I purse my lips, shrug and say, “That’s what I
think of your fucking laptop, honey. I’m through. I’m done. DONE.” I pick up my
bag from the counter; flounce out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Do I
look back? Hell no. I grab a coat that’s waiting quietly on the hook, throw it
over my arm and I’m out the door.
    “AMBER!” he calls but the sound is muffled as I
run down the stairs.
    I don’t have to take this shit. I’m done.

Seconds Later – Outside

 
 
    Walking fast, I turn a corner and hide
in the inset doorway of a looming apartment building. Chest heaving, I marvel
at what I just did; an apple for an Apple - what poetic justice! I meant to hit
Josh, not his computer, but …meh…I’ll take it.
    My phone will start ringing soon.
Snatching it from my bag, I’m grateful I hadn’t yet plugged it into the kitchen
wall, because there is no way I’d have remembered to grab it through this
adrenalin rush. I might need it later. But not now. Frantically, I power it off
to avoid the onslaught of his calls that’s sure to begin any second. I peek my
head out to see if I’m being followed. Nothing. Taking a chance, my heart pounding
so hard I can feel it in my eyeballs, I stuff the phone back into my bag and
break out into a run; jacket in one flailing arm, bag in the other.
    I race as fast as I can, free , past countless faceless blurs;
zipping around some, forcing others to jump or get trampled. Block after block
I run until my legs are like noodles. Still I run, not knowing how to slow much
less stop my velocity. My legs threaten to buckle. I’m out of options. I grab
onto a light post, hard, slamming into it like a first-timer on roller blades
who went down a steep hill with no skills for braking. Flushed, and aching, I
close my eyes against the vertigo. After a dozen deep concentrated breaths, my
head begins to clear and I can smell the pungent scent of garlic bread. I also
hear whispering, and can feel I’m being watched. I open my eyes fast and sneak
a panting look to my right. Patrons on the patio of a quaint Italian restaurant
stare back at me, bewildered. Some even look annoyed. I let go of the light
post, stand up straight. Shoving wild bunches of hair away from my face, I
realize, I need my girlfriends.
    I say aloud to everyone and no one,
“Nothing to see here. Go back to your lives,” and walk away, mortified. From
the Italian flags hanging from buildings, I ascertain quickly that I’m in
Little Italy. I have to get to The East Village, to Jessica’s. She’s the
closest. We’ll call Nicole from there and she’ll come running to help. Thank
God. The same thoughts spin over and over in my mind. Do I want to break up
with Josh? Am I really done? Give up, for good? Truly, in my heart? I refuse to
be one of those couples who live like roommates rather than lovers. I just
can’t. I won’t. Something has got to change. My girls will know what to do. My
tired legs press onward, moving me toward an unknown future I can’t stop
thinking about.
    I’m surprised at how quickly I reach the
East Village. I’m disoriented; time feels like hours and seconds have switched
places with each other. As I get closer to her home, a memory of Jess showing
up at my place after she found out David cheated, pops into my mind. I’m where
she was, shattered and lost – my relationship over. I touch my cheeks to
find out if I’m… yes, there are tears.
    I need my
girlfriends.
    I break into a run, powered by fear.
When I reach Jess’s building, I pull on the handle. It doesn’t budge. The lock
was broken, wasn’t it? For like, ever? I yank on it again. Still nothing. And I
realize, they’ve fixed the door, just
like she’s fixed her life. I check the directory, push the buzzer for her
place, and wait. Behind me, a crazy person passes, talking to herself. I see
myself in her thinking, we’re all two steps from crazy, huh? Jess, where are you? I push the buzzer
again. Nothing. Shit