Lovers and Leavers

Chapter 4: Leaving

"Sorry, huh? This doesn't look like sorry to me," David remarked as he slowly backed away from the door. Amy pulled away from Bruce, just as David was walking out. "David, wait! You don't understand! Wait!" Amy called as she jogged down the hallway to catch up to him.

But he was already gone. Amy stopped where she was and wrung her hands as her eyes became wet with tears. Bruce walked up to her and put his arms around her shaking body. And, together they stood there in the midst of the busy hallway.

Amy walked into the house. She could smell something arising from the kitchen and started off to investigate. She found Maxine, busy with a pot boiling on the stove and miscellaneous vegetables on the cutting board, ready to be made into a salad. Amy went over to the cutting board, and as she started slicing up an onion, tears once again sprang to her eyes. Maxine, sensing that these tears were not just from the onion, came over and put her arm around her daughter. "Amy, what is the matter? You've been down in the dumps these past few days and haven't talked to anyone. Tell me," she pleaded. "Is it you and David?"

Amy hesitated, deciding whether to tell her mother the story. Finally, she relented. "Mom, I really don't want to talk about this, but I know you'll just plead until I do, so, yes, it is David and I that is troubling me. He broke up with me, and I made a horrible mistake. I pleaded with him about taking me back, and then I…" Amy's voice broke off.

"What, Amy dear?"

"I kissed Bruce in my office today, and David walked in on us. Bruce had brought me flowers to make up from our fight. I thought they were from David at first, but then Bruce came in and started to kiss me. And, I kissed him back. And, and David wouldn't let me explain. He walked briskly away from me and wouldn't answer when I called his name down the hallway. Mom, I love him."

"Who? Bruce or David? It seems to me that you're not sure who you love."

"I love David. I even told him on his answering machine a few days ago. How do I get him back? Help me, Mom."

"Amy, you are a grown woman. You're not Lauren's age anymore. Therefore, I do not feel the urge to straighten out your relationship problems. Figure it out yourself, dear."

"Mom, please," Amy pleaded, "I need help. I want him back! I love David. I just like Bruce……."

Amy was interrupted of her thoughts by the front door slamming. Maxine raised her hands up in disbelief, thinking why her family was so ignorant and went to see which one of those ignorants slammed the door. It was Lauren. When Maxine was about to chastise her granddaughter, Lauren pushed past her without even the slightest hello. She stomped into the kitchen and glared at her mother. "HOW could you?" Lauren whined, " HOW could you do this to David? Victor says that David won't even talk to him. Victor is scared that David will go off and leave him again. How could you do this, Mom? If you wanted to be with Mr. Van Exel, you would've stayed with him when you had the chance earlier. You're already committed to David, and he loves you. Can't you see that?" By this point, Lauren is bawling out loud. "Mom, I know I didn't like you two together at first, but I'm used to you now. Don't break up with him because of me. I never meant it. Victor and I don't have to be together. He'd be a cool stepbrother anyway."

Amy couldn't take it any longer. She couldn't stand her and let her daughter chastise her, even though she knew Lauren was right. She knew David loved her, and it was all her fault. Everything was her fault. So, she decided, if everything was her fault, then she'd leave. That'd show them. All of them. She wouldn't have to worry about Bruce or David. Setting down the knife she'd been holding all this time, Amy wiped her hands on a dishtowel and walked out of the kitchen. She stomped up the stairs, went into her bedroom, and grabbed a suitcase, throwing clothes in. After closing it, she quickly glanced at the picture of David on her nightstand before heading down the stairs and walking out the front door.