Mending the Broken Soul

“When life gives you lemons, chunk it right back.”

~~~

Meeting someone new is always so simple. You go from feeling mushy to all lovey-dovey for each other, and in the very next moment, you’re smitten and can’t help but fall in love. That’s exactly what happened to me.

The only downside is I fell for the wrong guy. Matthew and I met at a house party hosted by one of his buddies, and boy, wasn’t he sweet. He threw up a facade that had me in the palm of his hand before I could say Jack Robinson.

“Hey you,” my best friend Kayleigh impeded my train of thought. My lips curved into a smile as she approached me and draped her hands around me. I was a few inches taller than her, and she constantly tried to make it up by donning heels.

“You look hot,” she whispered, pulling me towards the table I had cleared a few seconds ago. Her father owned The Inn, a restaurant only those with big pockets could afford. It was pretty hard getting a job here, but thanks to her recommendation, I was fortunate enough to be among the few new workers.

“Oh please, I look terrible.” I let out a giggle, sitting across her.

She was as breathtaking as the word itself. Coming from an affluent family, her fashion sense was on another level. She was a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes and a killer body. Her shape was inviting, and every man was left gaping at her.

“You won’t believe what I just found out.” Her brows drew together as she spoke.

“Maybe I will. Tell me about it.”

She cleared her throat, her eyes dancing around the restaurant, a sign that she was apprehensive. I leaned over the table, eager to know what the heck was making her so restless. It was so unlike her.

“Come on, tell me,” I whispered, my impatience wearing thin.

Wildly gesticulating her distress, she went on to break the most ludicrous news I ever heard. For a moment, I thought she had lost her mind. I mimicked her previous action. I didn’t want anyone hearing what she'd just spelled out. There were only three customers left. It was mid-morning, and as usual, a great percentage of our customers were at their workplace.

“He’s a drug dealer,” she repeated. As if saying it again and again would make me believe her. I threw my head back and laughed out loud. Kayleigh must have been high on something because she wasn’t making any sense.

“It’s not funny, Shannon. I am dead serious.” She leaned on the table and jabbed it twice with her fingers. “He is very dangerous.”

She despised Matthew for valid reasons, but at that particular moment, I thought she was blowing things out of proportion. We all knew drug dealers existed mainly in the movies. I mean, they did exist, but it was so damn hard to meet them, let alone date them.

“Matthew is many things, but a drug dealer? Absolutely not!” I said in his defense. Her eyes turned red with fury. She hated it when I didn’t believe her. I attempted to persuade her that she was mistaken, but she was having none of it.

“Please, ask yourself why he’s so strange. You’ve dated for what? Eight months or so? Do you know any of his relatives?”

I face-palmed and shook my head. We’d spoken about this more times than I cared to remember. His father was dead, his mother was working out of the country, his grandmother was a busy woman, and he wasn’t close with his other relatives for reasons I couldn’t remember.

“I know we’ve talked about this several times, but there’s something so fishy about him and my instincts are never wrong. You ignore a lot of questionable stuff going on between you two, and I don’t like it. His attitude is going nowhere, and you have to stop tolerating him,” she scolded, frustration clear in her voice.

“I hear you, but it’s easier said than done.” Leaving a relationship was difficult, but she was right. I had to do it. Hopefully, I would come out in one piece.

“Alright, but to hasten your decision, I’m going to prove to you that Matthew is a piece of shit.” She made her way to my supervisor, Becky, and asked, more like ordered, her to let me off for a few hours. She wanted to prove her point, and indulging her claims would appease her.

As we drove out of the parking lot, I broke the news she’d been dying to hear. She hit the brakes so fast the tires screeched. My breakfast filled my throat, threatening to come out, as she reversed the car to a safer place before assaulting my ears with unnecessary screams. I took deep breaths until the urge to puke subsided. Then I glared at her, earning myself puppy eyes. She muttered her apologies before bombarding me with questions.

“Do you think I’m making the right choice?”

“What kind of stupid question is that? If I had to give up my car for you to dump his ass, I would. In the blink of an eye. And we all know how much I love my baby.” She grinned, caressing her steering wheel.

“You’re an awful liar,” I teased. Her grin changed into full-blown laughter, her hand reaching out to pinch my cheeks. I quickly swatted it away from my face. I wasn’t ready for sore cheeks.

Her face turned pensive as she said, “I should drop you off at his house. Call him. Tell him you want to talk. I will wait for you so I can drive you home because he will be too pissed to do so.”

I turned down her offer and insisted on seeing what she wanted to show me. Her brows creased. “What for? You’re going to break up with him anyway, so why dig into his dirty business?” she asked in a duh tone.

It was evident she wasn’t grasping the weight of the matter at hand. If Matthew was everything she said he was, then I was in for a war. I didn’t want to imagine what I would do if it were true. “I have to know what I’m dealing with.”

When we got to our destination, I suddenly had the urge to pee. I feared her assertions would turn out to be accurate. The place did look odd. Why would dealers choose a drive-in where you would be knocking at their front door? Usually, there was an enormous electric gate and heavy security.

“Hello, how can I help you?” The door opened to reveal an old woman, who looked from Kay to me with an inviting smile. Kay wore a puzzled look on her face, but I was relieved. From the look of things, my ex-boyfriend-to-be was just a normal guy.

“Sorry for intruding, but I was wondering if I could speak with Matthew Morgan?” I decided to ask since Kay had been rendered completely speechless.

She moved from one foot to the other. “I know no one by that name.”

“Is it possible that he lives around here?”

“I've lived here for thirty years, and not once have I encountered a Matthew Morgan,” she confirmed.

We thanked her and got back into the car. Kay was confused, and I was glad. She didn’t know what to make of what she'd seen earlier, but that was the least of my worries. I had a boyfriend to dump.

* * *

As I took the remaining steps to Matthew’s apartment, my tummy did a flip. My nerves were all over the place. I had to remain tranquil, so I stopped to gulp down some water before adjusting my uniform. Suddenly noticing its short length, I realized it was not the best outfit to end a relationship in. Would Matthew be too turned on to understand that I wanted out? Either way, I was still determined to move on.

I inserted my key into the lock and pushed the door open. He instantly jumped to his feet and pulled me in for a hug. His left hand spanked my butt, and a disgusted feeling washed over me. A few months back, I would have cackled in excitement, but now, it felt like he had invaded my privacy.

Snickers from his friends, who were tucked in the corner, making it hard for me to see them from the entrance, had me pulling away from Matthew’s hold. Without acknowledging their presence, I trudged to his room. I had to change into something else because if I didn’t, no talking would be done.

As I rummaged in my bag for my jeans, Matthew spun me around and made to kiss me, but I turned my face. “Why are you acting funny?”

I sighed. “That’s what I wanted to talk about.” I could tell this wasn’t going to end well, so when he let go of me, I instinctively took a step back and tried to act calm.

“I’m listening.” He folded his arms against his chest and stared at me.

I waved my hand between us. “This isn't working. I can’t take your personality anymore. I want to break up.”

He peered at me beneath furrowed brows for a minute before bursting into a fit of unending laughter. My jaw dropped. I never expected him to react this way. Great, just great!

“Guys,” he yelled, opening the door to reveal his friends, who were walking down the corridor towards us. “Shannon said she wants to break up. She’s so funny,” he said amidst chuckles. His friends roared with laughter while I stared with wide-open eyes. I didn’t get the joke. His circle consisted of three guys, but I only remembered Ian’s name.

“I’m not joking, Matthew. I’m breaking up with you!”

Their crack-up died instantly as all eyes landed on me. I uncrossed my arms and took a few more steps back from Matthew, who was coming for me. My breath quickened and my hands began shaking as he backed me up against the wall and wrapped his hands around my neck. I let out a scream, grabbing onto both of his wrists and pulling hard, but he didn’t budge.

“Now listen and listen good. You don’t get to choose when you leave or stay. I decide that. Nobody leaves me unless I say so. Am I making myself clear?” he roared, fanning my face with his hot breath. I bobbed my head up and down like my life depended on it. Because it did. Tremendously. I was choking, but he didn’t care.

“Say it!” He pressed harder, causing both my eyes and nose to water.

“Crystal clear,” I croaked.

With a smile that matched the devil's, he let go before roughly kissing me. I had to restrain myself from puking in his mouth. When he pulled back, I opened my eyes to find that the room was spinning. I clutched the top of the bed tightly for support. His friends were openly lusting over me, so I pressed my lips into a thin line to suppress the insults threatening to spill out.

Matthew was seated calmly at the foot of the bed, like what he'd just done was normal. I glanced from him to his friends and then the door. I needed to get out of here as quickly as my legs could carry me. With newfound determination, I dashed for the door, catching them all by surprise. I roughly shoved Ian out of the way, making him stumble back, taking the rest of his friends with him.

Without thinking twice, I scurried to the front door and pulled at it once, then twice before realizing it was locked. A sigh of relief escaped my lips when I spotted the key on the table. I quickly grabbed it and tried to shove it in the lock, but my hands were shaking. On the second try, it finally fit, and a surge of happiness filled me. I took the steps two at a time.

I had barely made it down the first staircase when Matthew suddenly grabbed me by my hair and slapped me hard across the cheek, eliciting a bloodcurdling shriek from me.

He kneed me in the stomach, and I dropped to the floor, curling into a ball to minimize the pain shooting to every inch of my body.

I tried crawling towards the steps, willing myself to stay strong so I could get away, but I didn’t have enough strength. I shut my eyes and let my tears flow freely. There was nothing I could do. I said a short prayer and resigned myself to my fate.

“Love is cute when It’s new, but it’s more beautiful when it lasts.”

~~~

“Good morning, Mom, Dad,” I plopped on a stool across from my father and leaned on the kitchen counter.

“Morning,” they both chorused. Mom was busy preparing eggs for breakfast while Dad’s head, as usual, was deep in a newspaper.

“What’s the news?”

“Well, life is just getting harder. Nothing new.” He shut the newspaper and dropped it between us.

“Please, go wake your sister from wonderland,” Mom recited the line she said to me every morning since I could remember.

Grudgingly, I jumped off the stool and made my way to Ashlie’s room. Having to wake her up each morning was draining because she wouldn’t budge from the bed unless you coerced her to. So I resorted to using different tactics depending on my mood and, at times, the weather. It was a chilly cold morning, and a smile etched into my face as I pushed the door to her room open.

As was her norm, the duvet covered her entire body, including her head and I constantly wondered how she could breathe with her nose so deep in her blankets. Without uttering a word, I tugged the duvet off her, threw it over my shoulder, and made my way out.

“You’re the worst sister ever,” she threw at my back. I laughed; she didn’t mean it. She wasn’t a morning person and whoever messed with her sleep became immediate enemies with her.

“I love you too.” I winked, leaving the door ajar as I exited her room.

“Are you going somewhere?” Mom asked when I walked back in.

“Oh yes.” I placed the duvet on one seat and sat on the other. “I’m going to work.”

“On a Saturday?” Dad’s eyebrows rose, eyeing me with suspicion.

“I’m helping a friend out.” I picked up my cup of coffee and took a couple of sips, trying to evade the questioning looks they were giving me.

“What are you hiding?” He didn’t blink, his hazel brown eyes staring deep into mine. He was the no-nonsense overprotective kind of Dad, I supposed it came with his job.

“I’m not hiding anything.” When you have parents who police everything you do, you tend to keep stuff to yourself. I understood that it's what parents should do but it got overwhelming.

“Don’t lie to me, Shannon. I was twenty-two once upon a time and I know these behaviors all too well. Who is he?” He got off the stool, towering over me with his six-foot-tall height. I looked from him to Mom, swallowing hard as I dropped my gaze. I knew he would find out anyway, so I said, “His name is Matthew.”

“How long have you been seeing each other?” I palmed my head, following him with my eyes as he walked to the fridge.

“About a month, but we’re not dating,” I defended. We’d only met twice after the party, barely having time to talk properly as we each had tight schedules. Our constant chats were what kept us going.

“It doesn’t matter, you should have told us. What if something were to happen to you? We don’t even know him and neither do you,” he scolded.

“I’m sorry.” He was right, I didn’t know much about Matthew. In this day of people going missing and getting murdered, one had to be prudent.

“When are we meeting him?” he asked, taking a bottle of water from the fridge and downing it in one go.

“Dad! Not so soon.” I leaned over the counter, pleading with my eyes.

“Oh yes so soon. In fact,” Mom started, poking her index finger twice on the kitchen counter. “We want him here for dinner, today.”

I signaled for Dad’s help, but he shrugged. “You heard your mother.”

Defeated, I sank back into my seat. If I knew my father, dinner was going to be awkward. It was the second time bringing a guy home and he was sure going to give him a rough time.

“Alright, but on one condition.” I raised a finger. “I will gladly invite him over if you promise not to hound him with your detective questions.”

He cackled, his gaze shifting from Mom to me and saying, “Fine, I will try.”

He whispered something into Mom’s ear before walking towards me and pecking my forehead. “Don’t fret, we mean well.” He offered me a smile and I nodded in understanding, reciprocating his smile. Ashlie shuffled in at that moment, swiftly rubbing her sleep-deprived eyes.

“What did I tell you about staying in late?” Dad’s stern voice deterred her from taking any further steps. Her eyes softened like that of a helpless puppy, earning a grin from him. He pinched her cheek and murmured something that had her giggling in enthusiasm. He and Mom then exchanged their ‘I love you’ accolades as she walked him to the door.

“Are you leaving now?” Mom asked when she trudged back in. I nodded, taking the last bite of my bacon before placing my plate in the sink.

“I want you to have this.” She squeezed pepper spray into my hand. “I just want you to be safe. In case of anything, call me or your father immediately.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue so I pocketed it and promised to watch my back. They worried too much but I didn’t blame them. From the type of cases my father tackled every day, their constant paranoia was warranted.

“I hope you’re not going to his house?”

“I’m not, I know better. We’re going to a restaurant so there's nothing to worry about.”

She marched to where I was seated and swaddled her hands around me. “That’s my girl. Off you go now.”

I hopped off the stool, smooched Ashlie’s cheek, and ambled out of the house. The street was a peaceful kind of quiet and I smiled to myself as I visualized my future. I always yearned to be a designer, studying for three years in the university but landing the right job had proven to be difficult so I opted to do the waitress job as I made plans to pursue my dreams.