The Affair, Part One
There was a knock on the door. Bruce, who had returned from work that evening later than usual, had finished dinner and then sat on the couch with his eyes closed, his head titled backwards as his mind wandered over the day’s events.
The weather was horrible. The heavens had opened. The skies were angry and dark. Streaks of lightening lit up the night as thunder rolled aimlessly around the sky. Bruce was thinking of what to do for the hour or so before he made his way upstairs to bed and say goodbye to a tough day at work.
He opened his eyes slowly when he heard the knock again, but then quickly closed them when he felt it was his mind playing tricks on him. Nobody would be out in such weather. He heard the knock again. This time it was short sharp rap and very distinct. After a second of thought, he jumped up and peered through one of the side panels of the front door. He could see in the outside lights a petite figure standing there drenched. He thought no more of it other than it must be a stranded motorist and opened the door. The least he could do was to offer them some shelter. It was Virginia!
Bruce immediately threw open the door and pulled her inside. “Oh my God,” he said out of shock. “What are you doing here and especially at this time of night?” She didn’t reply but stood there shivering. It wasn’t a particularly cold night, but the rain must’ve made her shiver. She was completely drenched. The rain was pouring off her body. “Wait there a second,” he said as he ran into the mud room and pulled down a bunch of large towels from the rack above the washing machine. He ran back to where Virginia was standing. “Here,” he said as he helped take her clothes off and wrapped her in the dry towels. He rubbed her body as dry as possible and as he did so, she began to stop shivering but had yet to say a word. Bruce led her into the family room and sat her down on the couch and asked if she wanted something to eat or drink. “How about a hot cup of tea?” he asked, but she shook her head. “How about something to eat?” but again she shook her head. David was puzzled by her appearance. He went back to the front door and picked up her soaking wet clothes and threw then into the drier. He was going to go back to the front door and wipe the wet floor but decided instead to go and sit down with Virginia who didn’t, despite being much drier, look good. Her eyes seemed to be sunk in and it was obvious she had been crying. He sat down and looked at her closely as she sat across from him on the couch. “What happened?” he asked genuinely concerned for her safety.
“Jack threw me out,” she replied softly but haltingly.
“Oh wow,” Bruce was saddened. He was about to add the word ‘again’ but stopped himself.
It had all begun about 6 months ago when Virginia, who was living with Bruce in his house had decided for the third time to return to the abusive relationship she had been in with her prior boyfriend.
Bruce and Virginia had been dating for about 7 months before she took Bruce up on his offer to move in with him. After a few months of living together she broke off her relationship with Bruce and returned to her prior boyfriend Jack, professing her love for him. However, after a month or so, she returned to Bruce always worse than when she left, apologising profusely and promising to stay and not repeat her mistake. But that only lasted a few months before again she left Bruce only to return a few months later.
The last time she did was the worst in Bruce’s opinion and he swore that regardless of how much he loved her, he couldn’t put himself through that emotional rollercoaster anymore and would not take her back.
On prior occasions when Virginia had returned to her old abusive boyfriend, she had at least waited for Bruce to return home before she told him of her plans. Her bags would be packed and sitting by the door. Once she had spoken with him for a few minutes she left. But the last time she left was very different. Virginia wasn’t home when he returned from work. There was a note in her handwriting on the kitchen island letting him know what she had done. She had professed her undying love for Bruce, but felt that her place belonged with Jack, who besides what he had been told by Virginia knew nothing about him. That was when Bruce decided it would be the final time.
That evening, even though he had opened the door to her and she was standing in his home, he had not relented on his decision. Yes, he would let her stay there that night, but she would have to leave in the morning. As Bruce looked at Virginia, he noticed she had a black eye and was shocked to see her look so beaten up. But he didn’t want to get too emotionally involved in her plight. She appeared calmer than when she had first entered his house and for the first time in months. It had been about six months since he last saw her. He could see a slight smile on her face. His heart melted as soon as he saw that, but even though she stretched out her hands to hold his Bruce did not reach out to hold hers. He was proud he had the courage to do so.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly and even though she looked a little worse for wear, he could clearly see the beauty that had drawn him in the first met her at the convenience store some years ago. They had had a very beautiful relationship. They were destined to spend the rest of their lives together. Everyone who met them commented on what a beautiful couple they made. But Virginia was haunted by the demons of her past. Demons she never let Bruce know about, until one day completely out of the blue she told Bruce she was leaving and returning to her old boyfriend.
Bruce sat there that evening with Virginia’s hands resting on his as he fought back tears that tried so hard to burst out. He didn’t want her to see him being vulnerable anymore, even though he could think of nothing better than reaching out and pulling her close to him. But he knew that for his own self preservation he could no longer do that. Each time he done so in the past and each time she left, not only did a little bit of his heart go with her, but a little piece of his love for her died as well. After the first time, Bruce lived in constant fear that when he returned home Virginia would be there waiting to leave. That fear prevented him from enjoying life and for him to completely relax with her. When she left the last time, which in his opinion the worst, he promised himself that he would never take her back.
Yet here she was looking deep into his eyes which she knew would melt his heart with her hands holding his pleading with him, though saying nothing more than, “I’m sorry.” However, Bruce sensed a difference in her demeanour. He wasn’t sure what it was. She hadn’t followed the well scripted pattern as she had done in the past. She hadn’t asked Bruce to take her back.