that ar

or

I drove us home since Maurice was drunk ag

e tiny house, got out, and helpe

on easy street,”

ed Maurice into the house and upstairs. When he was half in

ty beer cans and sighed. I disagreed with Maurice’s drunken stupor when I married him. He could

rice’s brother strolled into t

eeping off his bo

ike Mauric

brother tossed cash onto the coffee table. “That is the advancement for th

finished tidying up and retired to bed. When a spouse doesn’t help

*

e downstairs, found the cash on the table, and

ateo c

drank m

did he

for you. That is

about las

working a double.” I stepped past Maurice, grabbed my purse, and left.

*

rin

ded to a coffee shop. He wanted coffee

of us stood in line and waited for Joseph to receive hi

on us. Joseph placed his order as I gaz

rder something?” T

adge. “Yes, Gloria, I would

Two coffees a

seph gave me a weird look

ked, breaking me f

ha

ffe

n a coffee sho

t consume

a first time f

going to pay her, but I paid her instead, h

t,” I r

ted. “That is over

xcellent servi

ria didn’t know what to think,

ed my coffee and spat it out, the

en discard it. Carri,

imples.” I

thing. The woman in the cof

e girls on campus, there was something about her. My mission was to

ffee shop. It was empty except for Gloria. I opened th

orry. We’r

O

he door.” She hurried t

be here alone

usually alone at closing time, so no one

til you leave. Then, n

ted her

Car

don’t

I’ll keep you compa

relaxed

tched her go ab

ou a s

aduated, so that leaves my brother and my oth

have a b

w the half of

was

med. “So, do you

e to speak to someone.” Glo

ew friends or not many people to ta

u end up workin

e owner was hiring, and I accepted the job sinc

about

or me. It never

I attend so I can join the fami

We all make choices in our lives. Some good, some b

ly inside, I lingered until she sped away. I found her intriguing and friendly. She wasn’t

ome and ente

ed me. “Wher

idn’t want to discuss Gloria with anyone. It was bad enough that my family kne

*

or

e and met a d

e wer

king until

ch you with any g

you lay off

ect across my face

owed his bro

irst time Maurice had hit me, but it wouldn’t be

*

rin

was or what would happen. I enjoyed life, not grasping the ide

inating in deceit. The truth would smack me in the face later. As for now, it made