The end of summer before freshman year, was the summer of my parents' divorce. And no, before you ask, the divorce did not directly cause me to mentally deteriorate. Was it an ugly divorce? Yeah, of course. Divorce is always ugly- one way or another. But, to be honest, the marriage was even uglier.
You know how it goes.
Mom met Dad at the strip club where she worked. Dad became a regular. After many romantic nights of binge drinking and countless lines of blow, the two of them finally hooked up. Next thing you know, Mom's pregnant and Dad doesn't think it's his. After nine months of arguing and threats, a newborn baby girl, and a paternity test (you ARE the father), they decide to do the most natural and logical thing. They tie the knot.
Much to everyone's surprise, marriage only made things worse. Dad descended deeper into drugs and alcohol while Mom stayed clean and sober. Finally, after 15 years of making things work while Dad pissed our money down the drain, everything came to a head when mom found out about Dad's affair.
Okay, so maybe it's not the most conventional love affair, but it's how I grew up. It's all I know.
The divorce was finalized at the end of summer before my freshman year of high school. I still vividly remember the day we moved out. It was significant because that was the same day that Mom met Lena; and god damn did it get ugly...
"Alright," mom exclaimed as we pulled into the driveway, "this is the last time we ever have to see this bastard. Let's just get in there, get those boxes, and get out."
"Yeah," I said, taking a deep breath, "that's almost exactly what you said last time."
She ignored me and began rummaging around in her purse.
"Where the hell did I put the damn key?"
I stared at her in disbelief. She'd placed it on the dash before we left Kendra's house. It was the first time I realized how pathetic she was, getting so flustered over someone as grimey as my father.
"OH shit." She said, noticing the key, "I forgot I put it up there."
She attempted a weak (unconvincing) laugh as she snatched it up, and then flipped down her visor to check her makeup. Dissatisfied, she plucked a tube of mascara from her purse and frantically applied yet another layer to her already saturated lashes, glancing at the windows to be sure no one was watching her.
"You know, Mom, you don't have to do this. I can go in there and grab the boxes and drop off the key. It isn't a big-"
"No." She cut me off, "I'm okay. Really, it's fine."
"Mom." I said sternly, "remember what happened last time? I really don't think the cops will be so lenient if it happens again."
"OH that's not going to happen again. The divorce is final now. There isn't anything to fight over anymore. Besides, Kitty over reacted. She should never have called the cops."
"Mom! You guys were screaming and throwing shit. She probably thought someone was getting murdered." I exclaimed, exasperated.
Mom rolled her eyes.
"Don't swear." She said, and then abruptly swung open her door and marched down the driveway, her platform sandals slapping loud against the pavement.
I groaned but quickly raced after her.
At the door, she fumbled with the key.
"Just don't do anything crazy." I begged.
"I'm NOT going to do anything CRAZY!" She snapped.
The lock clicked and she swung the door wide open.
Low and behold, right there on the living room sofa were the two, bare naked, sweaty bodies of my father and his new girl Lena.
YOU ARE READING
Just Imaginary
General FictionI can't imagine what it must have been like for my mother to find me lying there, or what she thought about the empty Ziploc bag that used to be full of every kind of pill imaginable. Or the blood that dribbled down the white sink, making long crims...
