Don't ignore the signs.
On walking in on being cheated on.
Note: This is a mostly true story. I previously posted a shorter version to my previous blog. I’ve changed up some details to avoid stirring up trouble. I’ve had several drafts of this over the years and added more layers to the original story.
I hated that it’d be another few hours before I saw him again. He had a minor procedure about an hour away, and who knew how long it’d be before he returned. I was anxiously counting down the hours at work until my shift ended because I knew he’d be in pain, and I couldn’t wait to help nurse him back to health. That was just like me, though—anxious to help heal people who did the opposite for me.
Interrupting my wandering thoughts of excitement, my phone beeped loudly.
“made it back safely, gonna nap til later. luv you.”
He’s back early! This made me even more anxious and ready to pack my shit up so I could jet off to his rescue. As I started to type my reply, my boss knocked on the glass, signaling her entrance.
“It’s slow today, go home.”
I’m pretty sure I had my laptop bag packed before she could finish the word “home”, but I asked if she was sure just to save face and hide my eagerness to get the fuck out of there. I hurried enthusiastically to his place and got there in no time. The butterflies in my stomach quickly dropped to the pit of it as I was met with a hard thud.
Sign #1
“When did he start locking his screen door?” I thought to myself.
Ignoring every voice in my head telling me to take my ass home, I knock. And knock again. By the third knock, his roommate hurriedly opens the door.
“Ashleighhhh!! What are YOU doing here?! It’s SO good to seeee you!” He exclaims while wrapping his arm around my shoulders, inviting me in.
Sign #2
His roommate hated me. Never would he be THAT excited, if at all, to see me. And the embrace? It was one that you give an old friend you haven’t seen in a while as you’re directing them to have a seat to chat.
He guides me to my man’s bedroom door and knocks. “Aye yo, Ashleigh’s here,” he says. Just then, he opens the door, wearing his gym shorts. He looks tired, out of breath, and... shook?
The smell that hits our noses is foul, and his roommate exclaims, “Yooooo, what’s that smell? It smells like garbage and cheese. You gotta clean your room, man!”
“Shutup!—hey babe!” he says as he kisses my lips. I instantly get a whiff of the same stench in the air, on his lips. I gag and feel my entire body heat up as I notice my friend sitting on his bed. Her face mirrors the same look of shock as his.
Nah. Nope. 没有
There’s NO WAY I just walked in on my man and friend fucking. This is NOT happening right now. Not to me. This is the shit of soap operas and ratchet romance novels. NOT my fucking life.
She angrily snarled at him before I could gather my thoughts, “Can you walk me out? Now!” I stood there, in the middle of his room, stuck, trying to process what I had possibly just interrupted as he quickly walked her out.
Sign #3
Without taking a second too long to think about it, I instantly set my eyes on his phone. We’re working on this whole trust thing, so I have his passcode. I go straight to their text thread. It’s immediately obvious that conversations have been deleted. The last one was from her, simply stating, “I’m downstairs.” My gut sank even lower than it already was, getting closer to my toes. I hurried to close out of the screen and set the phone back down.
He returns after what seems like an hour, but was only a few minutes. With a crooked smile and a firm grasp, he pulls me onto his stained sheets into an embrace.
“What’s this on the sheets?” I ask. Knowing precisely what the fuck it was.
“Oh, that? I spilled some water on the bed earlier.” He said straight-faced.
I didn’t know what the next part of our conversation would entail, but I was surely not prepared for what I heard next from his mouth.
Paid subscribers, keep scrolling to continue reading.
Currently.
Feeling — Inspired and high. I’ve gotten so many loving and not-so-gentle nudges that I need to get this book done. So, I’m getting this book done. But first, I wanted to get another draft out here, there are so many. And since I missed out on a couple of paid posts, I have some catching up to do.
Doing — Writing and thinking about life.
Reading — About to start the last book in the Brown sisters series, “Act Your Age, Eve Brown.” This has been my answer on the last three posts because I have still yet to start it.
Anticipating — CPR training tomorrow! I’m excited about it.
Learning — A lot about responding in an emergency! 184 minutes worth of online pre-training later, I can probably save your life.
Affirming — I can release what is not in my control.
Similar to this.
Posts of mine with a similar vibe:
Thank you for reading ‘here comes the sun.’
A special shoutout to my paid subscribers—GG, Yetti, Erica, Sharie, Amara, Rahima, Karen, Catherine, Oish, Elena, Ashantia, Brittany, Taryn, Carmen, Erin, GenX Marks the Spot, Lisa, Carmelia, Bobby, Dot, C. Elyse, Chris, Jéri, Ashley, Orobiyi, Carlie, Brandy, Amy, Krista, Emily, Tyece, Auntie Sherry, C.M., Assia, Albert, and Natazah.
If you would like to support another way outside of a paid subscription, feel free to:
Share this or any other post with someone who may need to see it.