t night. Despite how Carolyn calmed her down on her way home, she

ncing angrily beneath her. Her room, though not extravagant, wasn't cram

n. Darryl must have hid the purse from her when they were together in the room

with other girls, but he shouldn't try her. She would never entertain him or his childish actions

d carelessly on the nightstand, buzzed with an incom

pected to call her. With a sigh, Vanessa propped herself up against the pillows, t

om, how are you?" Her voice lacked its warmth, still r

her replied, oblivious to the und

did you call me today...?" she began, "since you stopped calling be

cut in, completely missing Vanessa's skeptic

she wasn't interested in getting married, but her mother wouldn't listen to her

told you countless times, I'm not getting married, not now, not

e shelf above her desk seemed to mock her, a

tch you waste your life over feminism," her mo

y if her mom knew what had happened to her, what had transpired bet

?" she asked, her voice dropping to a wounded whisper.

her mother insisted, "and getting married and sta

roblems. Even if she wanted a family, her own family wasn't encouraging at all. The awkward relatio

e desperate about starting a family or marriage," she said firmly, her voice laced

our mother," her mother's voice boo

daughter to get married instead of forcing the burd

r started, but Vanessa

" Vanessa interjected, taking the p

e immense distance that had grown between them. She tossed the phone back onto the nightstan

burden with. Carolyn was the only one she could talk

nder to sleep, the only solution to her problems. Just then,

t the screen to identify the caller. Seeing it was Carolyn, her best friend,

ke care of?" Vanessa teased her

h the receiver. "My husband can handl

e honor?" Vanessa

your date," she began, "Have you don

time, and I'm not

replied, trying to make Vanes

lt. "Yes, Carolyn, Darryl Peter

emphasized, "or should I

, surprise jolting her awake.

itive," Carolyn

with Darryl resurfacing. "No wonder he had the nerve t

olyn murmured

g, "if he thinks he's some kind of hotshot

erjected calmly. "Vanessa, honey, slow down. Jus

layfully. "Alrigh

I'm not as tough as she is,"

closer every day,

thoughts of revenge, fueled by the revelation about Darryl. As she drifted off to a restless sl