Unhappily Married ✓

14. Family

"A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers."—Ruth Bell Graham

"Bye Tammy, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Stella."

As I make my way towards my car, a taco cart comes in my sight and my stomach grumbles. I only had an apple for lunch and it's almost six in the evening now. Moreover, all that hard work in the office has given me an appetite for evening snacks.

I stride towards the cart, slinging my handbag over my shoulder. After I ask for a chili bean taco, I drop two dollars in the owner's hands.

"Thank you," I say.

He gives me a slight nod.

I slide into my car and turn on the radio, letting some rock songs break the silence. As I bite into my taco, cheese melts on my tongue, making me smack my lips at its spicy flavor.

After I finish eating, I wipe my mouth with a tissue paper and check my face in the rear view mirror.

Tammy's advice has been of a great help and I can't thank her enough. Things are always tense between Todd and me and not even a single day passes without arguments, so it's somewhat hard to keep my morale up. I am trying to come to terms with all the things going on in my life, but it's not that easy, because every time I feel I can survive with Todd, fate proves me wrong.

Lazily, I put my head on the steering wheel and let out a deep breath. I just wanted a simple married life. When I met Todd in college, I had no idea I would marry him. When I married him, I had no idea I would ever want a divorce and when I wanted a divorce, I had no idea I would've to wait one long month to get it. 

I wish I had an easy way out.

With my jumbled up life, sometimes I can't focus on my work and this makes me anxious. Earlier today, I had an argument with Todd and I couldn't bring myself to concentrate on my writing, so I switched off my phone to focus my mind only on my work.

As I sit straight, I pick up my handbag from the passenger seat and fumble my hand around for my phone. When I finally get it, I switch it on and put the bag back in its place.

My eyes slightly widen as I notice six missed calls and three texts from Todd. And when I see four missed calls from Mom, my heart skips a beat. Why would they need to call me? Is everything all right?

As I read his texts, a shiver runs down my spine.

Todd: Stella, where are you?

Todd: Your dad has been admitted to the hospital.

Todd: Please, come soon.

"Oh my God."

My breath gets caught in my throat and in a few more seconds my fingers start to tremble. I break out in a cold sweat as I place my phone in my lap. Without wasting even a single second, I put on the seat belt and tighten my fingers on the steering wheel.

Numerous thoughts start to swirl around in my head and a lump forms in my throat. What happened to Dad? Is he okay?

Todd sent these texts an hour ago while my phone was switched off and I feel like such a careless person right now. Dad is my responsibility and I have to be there for him every time he needs me, but I've failed him. My blood runs cold at the thought of how Mom would've handled the situation alone.

I just hope Dad's okay.

*****

I pant for breath as I make my way towards Todd. He is pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair, but the second he spots me, he stops.