Tell Me You Love Me
Chapter One- The Beginning of the End
Divorce, one word that means so much. If you Google it you discover that it means a complete severance of closely connected things, or in my case people. Technically that would mean that they had to be closely connected in the first place. My parents only connected when they made me, obviously ha ha, but for years my parents haven't gotten along. My whole 17 years of life I've observed them merely dealing with each other. I just figured it would always be that way. Each parent in separate wings of the house, coming together only for family dinners nightly. It was more for my benefit is what they said, wanting to keep up with me and see how my day was. This left our meals to be eaten mostly in silence, the only noise coming from the utensils scrapping their plates. Yup this was as normal as it got for my family.
My father is a successful therapist and a New York Times Best Selling author with a trust fund. Ironically he counseled people trying not to get a divorce and wrote books on how to have a successful and happy marriage. Go figure. My mother on the other hand seemed to lack in the goal department, unless seeing how much gossip she could hear and spread on a daily basis counted. She drinks wine daily with her "book club", I have yet to see them read anything except text messages holding no doubt, more gossip. Besides where do book clubs have to meet on a daily basis, I have yet to meet anybody that can read a five hundred page book in less than 12 hours like I can. She keeps the house clean though and prepares semi edible meals, most of the time. They act so cold to each other though. I don't get it. When they are out in public or around other people they seem so warm and open. I guess everybody has secrets behind closed doors. They seem to make it work for them though.
That was until I came home to find my dad and my mother both home. He was home early, suitcases lined the wall. She was sitting on the couch I could see the dried tear stains on her face. My fathers face absent of expression but with his rigid stature I could defiantly sense something was wrong. He asked me to have a seat upon seeing the confused and worried look on my face. It felt weird I thought as I took a seat next to my mother, having them both in the same room where a meal wasn't being consumed and there were no other people present. My father began to explain that he returned from work early this afternoon with a new outlook on life and a positive attitude. He was opening a practice in Canada, I suddenly got excited and tuned him out at the prospect of moving, meeting new people, I'm sure the joy was evident on my face. They color drained from my face as I tuned back in hearing his next words. He said that he will be making this trip alone.
"Why" I exclaimed, not understanding what was going on once again. He turned to my mother all though he was speaking to me. "In all the years I have been with your mother, I have never once disrespected her or you. I have worked to provide for you made sure that you wanted for nothing and had everything that you need. Clare I wanted to see to it that you were happy. I feel that I have failed my job not miserably, but I can see the disappointment on your face. I can't feel it around you because of the distance between your mother and I. Today I thought that we could move and start fresh and work on being a family for real and not just pretend. That was until I came home and caught your mother in bed with your ex boyfriend, Jake's father, in the bed we once shared." As he said these words his voice turned cold as I burning my ears. He disconnected himself from us emotionally. "Then I decided that I was tired of trying to be the perfect husband and father, I'm done. I have sold the house already because of the move I was planning on making. You have one week to vacate the premises or you will be arrested for trespassing. All the furniture was sold along with the house so do not remove anything except for personal belongings, i.e. clothes, shoes, and hygienic things. Half of it has already been packed. In your makeup case at the door you will find an envelope with enough money to do something, but you need to figure out what that will be and do it quick I no longer support you. I suggest both of you go get jobs. I sat in shock. I didn't notice he moved until he spoke again his voice sounding distant. He simply said "I wish you the best of luck." He then grabbed two suitcases, walking out of the front door, and out of our lives.