Page 6 of Retribution

Willow walks across the floor and Allie follows close behind her.

“Allie, Willow! How are you girls?” Hugging them both, I notice a frown upon Allie’s face.

“About the competition this weekend… Willow’s father is taking her, I’m out of town,” She says as she begins to set down the gym bags she’d been carrying.

“Oh, it’s such a shame that you’re not going to see Willow qualify!” Pouting, I turn towards the office as Willow skips off to the locker room.

Allie hesitates for a moment, staring longingly into the distance.

“Everything okay, Al?” I whisper, trying not to alert Willow.

She groans and pulls her bag into her suit jacket.

“Is it obvious?” She mumbles.

Placing a comforting hand on her back, I flick my chin towards my office.

Allowing Allie to sit first, I sit to the left of her.

We’ve been quite good friends since Willow has attended my classes. It’s common practice when she shows up to every dance class. She is everything I would have wanted from my own mother growing up.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Allie sighs, “I’m getting divorced.”

I still, trying my best to conjure up a sympathetic response.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Allie.”

Thanks to my parents, I’ve never had to experience what divorce is like, despite a divorce being well overdue. It was just circumstantial that before it got to that point, my father expired.

Allie slumps against me as I pull her into my arms, rubbing my thumb along her arm. Sometimes, sympathy can be displayed best when it is unspoken.

“It’s the right decision but I know it’s going to tear Willow apart. I can’t help but feel guilty and selfish, we have nothing between us anymore. He is never away from work; I feel like I don’t even have a husband.” Her voice breaks at the end, drawing my chest tight.

“You know what’s best for your family. If it’s any consolation, you’re an amazing mom to her, she’s old enough to understand. I think you’d be surprised how mature she is, how strong she is.”

She smiles coyly at my comments and sits upright.

“Thank you, I feel like I really needed that right now. It’s nice to have someone be on my side for once, and, you’re right. My girl is tough, she could conquer the world with her courage.” She’s nodding as she speaks, her eyes slightly glossy.

“If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” I pat her knee, standing up as she follows me out of the office.

“You’ll make a great mother one day, Indie.” Her voice is quiet.

Blushing at the thought of when my time will come, I head into the changing rooms to prepare for my class.

Despite my absence at home, Scott disappears throughout the day, working, supposedly, even though he brings little to our income at the minute. We’re surviving off of my income alone. I just have to keep thinking of the better times that we’ve had, the times when we were so in love the world didn’t matter anymore.

10 Years Ago

I struggle to pull on my heels after drinking for the last 5 hours. This ‘welcome back’ party has very nearly caused me to ruin my reputation along with my new dress. The effect of my intoxication becomes apparent as my need to head home heightens.

Pulling myself up from the couch, I step over a bunch of drunken, passed out teenagers. None of us are legally old enough to consume alcohol, but I suppose that’s the perks of being friends with a bunch of 21-year-olds.

Britney is nowhere to be found so I head out of the apartment and stumble into the hallway.

Spinning my head left and right, I try to remember which way it is to the elevators. I squeeze my eyes shut a few times to try and straighten out my focus. Each way looks the same, so I head right. Surely right is the right way, right?

I stroll along the hallway, for what feels like hours, until I finally come to the elevator lobby. Thank God, I didn’t take a left.

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