7
Sarah was shaking her head at me, annoyed. “You know, it’s so true about not being able to read people’s true intentions. He was all over you in college, the picture–perfect couple. Then you got married and everyone was so jealous. Who knew he was such a total douche?” Yeah, Ben and I were the golden couple.
When I graduated my advisor wanted me to join
his team early and I worked myself to the bone.
I would complain to Ben about it and he would
comfort me.
The next day, he drove three hours to my place,
and proposed.
I was stunned at how impatient he was, but he
said he’d had a nightmare the night before.
That I’d marry someone else. He wanted to tie
the knot with me as soon as possible.
He was also worried about how tired I was, and
wanted to take care of me.
I was so in love with him at the time, I thought
it was inevitable that we would get married. So I
said yes. And we went and got hitched without
even telling my family.
A few days later, my mom found out and she
went off on me. But I said I knew Ben was
<
dependable and that I’d be happy with him
forever.
But, I slowly pieced together the truth.
Ben’s so–called nightmare came about because
Tiffany didn’t go to the same school as he did.
She decided to go to another city.
They had planned on going to our university together.
Ben got mad at Tiffany for going against their deal, and proposed to me on impulse.
So, Tiffany threw a fit at Ben, and Ben went
one up, and picked Tiffany’s birthday to marry
- me.
My perfect marriage was all just about them
and their feud.
So why hadn’t Ben divorced me?
I remembered him talking to his buddies in the
private room of a bar:
“Duda if I divenn In whorn am I
find
<
“Dude, if I divorce Jo, where am I gonna find
another wife who’s so perfect? She has a great
career, makes good money, has a hot body, and loves me so much. She does everything I say…”
That was the first time I thought of divorce. But I told myself to give him another chance.
Looking back, it’s like they say, if you find one cockroach in the sunlight, it means there are a million of them hiding in the shadows. Ben was rotten to the core.
Zach’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts: “That’s why I don’t believe in marriage. And never will. Love is for suckers.
“Jo, you’ve always been good with your hands.
Why don’t you come work at my bar as a part- time bartender?”
I looked at Zach. He seemed genuine.
Zach had always wanted me to try new things.
and help him with his business.
<
He wanted me to learn calligraphy and help him
design a cover for his bookshop.
He wanted me to learn how to sew so I could
design a few original pieces for his clothing
store.
I always turned him down because Ben didn’t
want me to interact with other guys too much. But I did really enjoy making things.
I was always curious about other things, but I always put Ben’s happiness first.
Now, I had to do something that made myself happy.
So I said yes.
