LJ Idol Mini Season Week 2

[sohardtohold]

People kept telling her she didn’t deserve this. Of course she didn’t. No one did.

She had married him, of course, and that was her own doing. But she would get herself out of this situation the same way she got herself into it, by her own actions. Of course, the $600.00 her mother had driven to the bank and withdrawn from her parents savings account helped. It would pay her first months rent. She’d never lived on her own. But she was excited, and she knew that she could work her way out of this situation. She just needed to get ahead of it. Out in front of her a bit, where she could see it for what it was. A marriage that just wasn’t working for either of them anymore.

Once her parents found out what was going on, they were immediately supportive. Her father told her, “Oh honey, we treated him like part of the family because we knew you loved him. Imagine your reaction if I’d told you he was no good, or I forbade you to see him?” He was right. She’d have been hurt, then she’d have dug in her heels and probably let it damage their relationship. That’s some father’s intuition. It was probably all his time in the military. He believed hard work could get you out of any situation, and had passed that along to her. Well, she was ready to work.

Little did her parents know, before she ever had this conversation with them, she’d done some talking to herself in the mirror. The husband? She couldn’t help his behavior, that was on him. She had switched off a long time ago, and started making plans for herself. She couldn’t leave the house at night while he was at work with their only car, so she found a way to work from home. She’d met a woman online who worked as a phone escort, and was recruiting girls for her. She’d been working at night, while he worked his 12 hours night shifts at the plant. At first it wasn’t much, and she put back everything for her moving fund. So far she had $900.00.

She knew her parents had been together since high school, so it was a shock for her to hear her agree when I brought up the subject of divorce. “Of course, you’ll divorce him, and come home. I’ll get your room ready.” She silently cursed the gods, because of course she knew he mother would want her to come home. But she quietly explained to her mother that she couldn’t, even though she appreciated the offer so much. She needed to get out on her own. She was 24 and she’d been married, sure, but she’d never lived on her own. She wondered how that had happened without her realizing it. Her mother understood, but looked disappointed. With the $600 from her parents, she had $1500.00, enough for a deposit and rent on a place near her parents. This was an important criteria to her, as her mother had been diagnosed with liver cancer a few weeks before.

She found a couple of part time jobs in the real world, but also kept up with the one that enabled her to leave him. Things really began to pick up in the phone escort world. Eventually, working all three jobs, she was able to keep her apartment and divorce him. Somehow she still managed to spend time with her mother too. Her mom got to see her leave her husband and live successfully on her own. Unfortunately, she passed away not long after the divorce. And then work picked up, and kept her busy. So busy that she never looked back. Being a phone escort changed her life. She gained confidence, and professionalism. She eventually became a small business owner herself, and learned to manage employees. It was a springboard for her whole life to date. But every now and then, she stops to wonder how those last 6 months spent living with her dying mother might have also changed her life.

Comments

[nicholewithanh]

Your piece really captures the complexity of navigating such an extreme life change. Despite the parental support, the narrator realizes the importance of forging their own path - which is so important. I appreciate how you highlighted how living life on one's own terms often carries a whole onslaught of what-ifs and regret no matter what we choose.


Thanks for sharing!

[muchtooarrogant]

I liked your character's interaction with her father. As a parent, it's so incredibly difficult to resist the temptation of trying to guide your children through rocky relationships.

Thanks for sharing this.

Dan

[chasing_silver]

A lovely redemptive story, but all stories have some element of what if? I like that you've captured that here.

[mollywheezy]

I loved your character's strength and conviction that she needed to live on her own, as well as her parents' support of her. Great job!

[fausts_dream]

I like the power and focus of your narrator here. Her ability to make plans for herself with the two pronged chaos of a bad marriage and a parents terminal illness. They say good relationships are unique but bad relationships all have the same sickly feel

Strong effort here, like your protagonist, you are off to a good start.

[thephantomq]

Getting out of a relationship that just ISN'T working anymore is so tough -- I'm glad she had the support of her parents, and managed to strike out on her own. I'm sure her mother is/was proud of her <3 for all the hard work she put into building a life of her own.

[roina_arwen]

There’s always that what if with choices. I’m glad she succeeded in her goals.

Thanks!

[sohardtohold]

I appreciate all of your comments and encouragement! You guys are awesome and your stories are too. I'm learning so much already.

[halfshellvenus]

I can see how impossible that choice must have seemed-- free yourself or sacrifice a lot of the time you might have left to sped with your dying mother.

Each choice will always have those road-not-taken regrets, but at least the choice she DID make turned out well.

[adoptedwriter]

What a great story about overcoming hardships! Well done!

[murielle]

I love reading about women who rise up from the ashes and build lives for themselves. You have told this tale with great depth and compassion. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

I'm so sorry about your mom. ((Hugs))

[erulissedances]

I love the fact that she made what could have been almost impossible, a reality ... and then she thrived.

- Erulisse (one L)

[alycewilson]

It's so hard to leave a bad situation, but I'm proud of this protagonist for doing so.