Chapter 9

Julie

I’ve been in Texas for two days now, and my mother has tried calling me a few times. I’ve chosen not to pick up because I know exactly what she’s calling about. I’ll be heading home tomorrow, with Alex following a day after, as school is about to start.

Today, I have a special outing planned with Alex. We’re going shopping for something that will help my daughter, Angel, remember me when I’m away. I’ve promised Mary that I’ll call more often, especially to ease Angel’s bouts of sickness when she misses me. Mary and Angel are out with some of Mary’s friends and their kids, giving Angel a chance to interact with children her age. Being a mother to my little girl is challenging, but I’m committed to being there for her.

However, there’s another weight on my mind, something I’ve carried for years. Kyle, a close friend who has been in the hospital since I was 13, is a constant concern. My family has a restraining order against Kyle’s family, making it challenging for me to visit him without being seen.

I carry a tremendous guilt about what happened to Kyle. He and Sara, my sister, had been dating for more than three months, but a terrible incident changed everything. When Kyle came to talk to me one day, he found himself caught in a terrible argument between Sara and me. The confrontation turned violent, leaving me in a coma and Kyle with brain damage.

The doctors hold out hope that Kyle will recover, noting slight movements in his fingers and feet and occasional moments of lucidity. Kyle has always been like a big brother to me, and I feel responsible for his current condition, even though it’s not my fault.

I can’t help but fear that Sara might demand I stay away from Alex, assuming some romantic connection between us. I know Sara well enough to anticipate that she might use violence to enforce her wishes.

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I understand that I’ll need to distance myself from Alex once we return home, especially with school starting soon. But for now, I need to get ready for my shopping trip with Alex.

I choose a short dress and add high heels for the occasion. After making sure I look presentable in the mirror, I head downstairs to meet Alex. He had been on the phone with my mother earlier, inquiring about my reluctance to answer calls. I explain that I didn’t want to risk leading my family to Angel.

During our drive to the mall, we maintain a somewhat uneasy silence, but I appreciate Alex’s understanding.

Upon arriving at the mall, I come face to face with my ex-boyfriend, Jay, the same guy who betrayed me by having an affair with my sister. Jay’s audacity surprises me, and he attempts to confront me. Our encounter quickly turns confrontational.

Julie: I’ve been in Texas for two days now, and my mother has tried calling me a few times. I’ve chosen not to pick up because I know exactly what she’s calling about. I’ll be heading home tomorrow, with Alex following a day after, as school is about to start.

”Look who we have here, Julie, the real bitch herself,” Jay spat in anger.

”Look here, Jay, you’re the last person I want holding me like that. Don’t you dare touch me with those hands you had on her. I’m still mad at you, so don’t think you can call me a bitch when you’re the one who had sex with my sister while we were still dating.” I spat out disgust dripping from my lips.

“ You think I wouldn’t find out your sister told me how you brought new guys home every night when you told me you had to study. And now you blame me for having sex with your sister when you were the one who was cheating on me every night when I was home thinking about how much I loved you and missed having you around while you were too busy enjoying yourself with other guys in your bed.

What did you expect me to believe when my own girlfriend wouldn’t even let me touch her? And sorry, baby girl, we both know your sister is hotter than you’ll ever be and she’s great in bed”. Jay said in a very disrespectful way.

”You believed all those things my sister said about me, didn’t you?” I enquire.

”What did you expect me to believe when you wouldn’t even let me touch you without you screaming at me to stop? Or without you waking up in the middle of the night because of some nightmares I didn’t even have a clue what they were about. Look, Julie, I’m a man, and I’ve got needs that needed to be taken care of, and your sister didn’t mind,” Jay said.

”You believed those lies? My sister twisted everything, and you fell for it. You never understood what I was going through.”

I’m taken aback by his false accusations and realize that my sister has maliciously painted me in a false light. I feel a surge of anger and frustration at the lies and misconceptions that have tainted my relationship with Jay.

For a moment, my emotions threaten to overwhelm me, but I take a deep breath and say, “You believed all those things my sister said about me, didn’t you?” Jay’s response stings, but I’m determined to stand my ground and defend my integrity.

As we continue to argue, it becomes clear that Jay has never understood the pain and trauma that I’ve experienced, especially considering his insensitivity towards my nightmares and emotional distress.

The confrontation with Jay highlights the complexities of my past and the challenges I’ve faced in my personal life. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for myself and not allowing false accusations to define me.

As I stood there, facing my ex-boyfriend Jay, a whirlwind of emotions and memories rushed through my mind. Despite the hurtful accusations and insults he had thrown my way, a part of me still cared about what he thought. However, I couldn’t let his baseless accusations define me.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and responded, “You believed those lies? My sister twisted everything, and you fell for it. You never understood what I was going through.”

Jay’s face showed a hint of regret, but his pride prevented him from apologizing. Instead, he muttered something about how he had moved on and didn’t need my drama in his life.

I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of relief and anger. Part of me was glad that he was no longer part of my life, but his departure had left scars that still hurt. The confrontation with Jay had opened old wounds, reminding me of the complexities of my past and the challenges I had faced.

Turning away from him, I joined Alex and to continued our shopping trip, our conversation light and reassuring. I knew that my journey was far from over, with unresolved issues and tensions waiting for me at home. But for now, I was determined to enjoy the moments with Alex, making lasting memories for my daughter, Angel, and embracing the opportunity to move forward.