Life of Her, Chapter One, Part II
Jumping
Part II
Of course, I’ll return …
Her husband Marcus sauntered in, set his coat over the stair railing, and pushed his briefcase under the entryway table. He glanced at the packed bags near the front door, then at Abby. “What’s this all about?”
“Yeah, Mom, where are you going?” Drew interjected as he crunched through an apple he had found in a bowl on the counter. “And seriously, I’m starved. What’s for dinner?”
Abby gave her son a big kiss on the forehead before answering. “I didn’t make dinner tonight. There are pizzas in the freezer. Throw them in the oven … and learn how to cook. Otherwise, you might starve.” She gave him a partial smile and pushed him toward the freezer. “I love you, you know,” she said before turning away.
Abby slipped into her coat and opened the front door, where a chilly blast slapped her face. The driver was waiting for her.
Marcus grasped her arm and asked again, “Babe, what’s going on?”
“I’m leaving, Marcus,” she replied, her voice calm but clipped. Anything else would have betrayed her fear.
“What do you mean, you’re leaving?” Marcus’s voice grew harsher. “Where are you going?”
Abby avoided his eyes. “I don’t know yet,” she murmured, hoping it would do, knowing it wouldn’t. The weight of her words settled in the pit of her stomach.
“You don’t know?” His voice rose. “You just pack your bags and what? Walk out without a plan? That’s not good enough, Abby!” Marcus stood motionless, his eyes searching hers, calculating, processing.
Abby would laugh if she wasn’t so distraught. Such a male defense, she thought. He wasn’t feeling anything. He was thinking. Maybe she was doing all the feeling and not enough thinking. Too late. She had already stepped off the cliff with one foot when she packed her bags. She just needed to get out the door with the other.
Am I strong enough? she asked herself, staring into Marcus’s blue eyes. They were saying, “Don’t go!” Those eyes always weakened her. But he didn’t say the words. His hands retreated, and he stepped back.
Stop me! she screamed in her head.
The taxi honked, the sharp blast piercing the tension. Abby flinched, her breath catching in her throat. She swallowed hard, reminding herself to take a deep breath. Her heart pounded as her gaze drifted to the corner where Jossi had stood, hoping—desperately—that her friend’s presence might somehow return and ground her trembling nerves. But she had snuck out before the hard part. As always!
Abby’s gaze flickered back to Marcus. His stare was now cold.
“Abby, where the hell are you going?” he demanded.
Abby’s shoulders tightened, forcing her spine to straighten. “I’ll let you know when I get there,” she said with resolve.
She buttoned up her coat, the long one she used for very cold weather, and swirled a cashmere scarf around her neck. She took out the gloves stored in the pockets but decided against them, placing them back before grabbing the handle of her luggage.
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice unsteady. She leaned in, kissed Marcus on the cheek, and, turning on her heels, stepped out into the night, rolling her bags down the walkway to the street where the taxi driver awaited her.
“Abby …” Marcus’s strained voice called out, but she didn’t look back.
She had jumped and couldn’t get back up if she tried. She was falling.
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.