I kept driving because that was all I could do at that moment.
ARLYS HUNT
I had to pick my battles.
That's what I kept telling myself.
It was a mantra that got me through the worst years of my life.
Sure, I could fight tooth and nail but that only ended up with my teeth chipped and my nails torn.
So I sat there in the passenger seat of Kent's car, waiting for a battle I could win.
He was upset.
Agitated.
That just meant that he wasn't as smart as he should be.
My door was locked, but I could unlock it.
But, I wasn't about to bail out of the car.
Where would I go along this stretch of road that seemed endless?
And the asphalt?
If I jumped out, how would I protect the baby?
So I sat there, listening to him grumble under his breath.
"... did you hear me?"
I tried to keep my voice as level as possible. "Yes. I hear you."
"It's all your damn fault, Arlys. I don't know how, but you ruined my life."
I didn't know how either, but since when had Kent ever listened to any answer I gave him?
"Since you left, I lost my job. I'm behind on the house payments. The bank is calling. What did you do?"
I opened my mouth to say 'nothing.'
He wouldn't believe me.
He'd been drinking. I could smell the faint scent of it in the car.
"I'm taking you home. And when we get there, you're going to fix it all, Arlys. Do you hear me?"
I swallowed first. "I hear you."
Kent nodded and gripped the wheel tighter.
"I thought you'd come to your senses before this, but you actually filed that shit in court!"
I didn't say a word then.
"You filed for divorce and now my whole life is falling apart."
