Life of Her … Chapter 1, Part 1
Chapter 1: Jumping
Part 1
After Abby packed her bags, she set them by the door. Glancing at her watch, she realized she had just enough time for a glass of wine. Maybe it would calm her nerves, or at least soften the pounding inside her chest.
“You’re really doing this?” Jossi’s voice cut through the tense moment as she followed Abby into the kitchen, watching her pull a wineglass from a shelf and fill it, emptying the bottle.
Abby sipped her wine, allowing the red liquid to linger in her mouth as she purposely ignored her best friend’s concern.
“You aren’t answering me,” Jossi pressed.
Abby’s gaze drifted to the window where darkness had descended on the neighborhood outside. The streetlights had come on, casting a dim glow onto the pavement below. After another long sip from her glass, she finally met Jossi’s gaze. “I don’t know if I’m crazy or sane. But if I don’t do this now, I’ll drown.”
“Jumping is frightening,” Jossi warned.
“How would you know?” Abby narrowed her eyes. “You’ve never had to jump.”
The two women locked eyes in a momentary stare until interrupted by the sound of Abby’s son’s voice. Abby turned away, giving Jossi a chance to slip out of the room without a goodbye, leaving her to deal with the inevitable confrontation. It was a family matter—Abby’s family matter.
“Hey Mom, there’s a taxi outside,” Drew said as he came into the house, threw his gym bag at the base of the stairs, and beelined to the kitchen. “What’s for dinner?”
Abby looked at her boy, seeing the man he was becoming. With broad shoulders and a lean, muscular frame, he was so much like his father. He had reached well beyond her husband’s height of six feet. The way he was eating, she feared he would gain at least two more inches before he reached adulthood. His jaw was becoming strong and angular, with hints of stubble. But his cheeks were still round with boyish charm, and his eyes were bright and curious, reflecting a sense of innocence and boundless energy. There were no lines or wrinkles, just a vibrant complexion of youth.
Abby worried he would be lost without her.
Her gut wrenched. Mothers don’t leave their children!
But he wasn’t a child anymore. He had proclaimed that to her a dozen times. He was letting go—going out with friends versus hanging at home, ignoring texts, answering questions with as few words as possible—as he should. It was what teenagers did, no matter how much it may hurt their parents, or hurt her. She had been through this stage before with Emma. She just never thought it would be this hard the second time around.
“Mom,” her son said, lifting his big unguarded eyes to hers. “Did you hear me?”
She nodded. “Yes, Drew, I heard you.”
The door from the garage opened with a creak. Abby didn’t turn at the sound, making a mental note to oil the hinges when she returned.
Of course, I’ll return …
Part Two … where choices deepen, and consequences begin to unfold.
Life of Her—a novel of self-discovery, love, and the quiet courage it takes to step into the life you were meant to live.
Elizabeth Conte is a women’s fiction writer bringing what she loves about 19th century literature to the 21st century reader. She writes poetry, short stories, and novels, with award-winning novels, Finding Jane and Chosen Mistress, available on Amazon & Audible. Other published work include anthologies, as well as featured in journal and magazines around the world.
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