Chapter 2 - The part of you that left

CHAPTER TWO

The part of you that left

It was late in the night, Vicky was on the sofa dozing, she was obviously tired and had been worrying before drifting off to sleep. It had become a daily routine in her life.

The TV was still on at that moment because she was watching a movie before wandering off In her thought.

At that moment, the door creaked open and this woke her up.

She yawned, stretched and turned to the drunken figure standing behind her. She put off the T V and looked at the wall clock.

"12:00 am"

she whispered and glared angrily at her husband who just got in.

He was late again just like the other nights.

Vicky stood up and stared meanly at Mike. She felt so annoyed and wanted to tongue lash him with various insults that were lurking in her mind but she restrained herself.

"You are most highly welcome at this godly hour"

She managed to say sarcastically.

"Do you know what the time it is at this moment?"

She asked him angrily

"How can you call your self a responsible father when you don't even know how your son is faring, instead, you return home late sweaty, drunk, and smelly" Vicky had started raising her voice now, she was becoming utmostly tired of his behavior this present day.

"I'm not surprised you've gone out there again. Isn't it?"

She asked sharply and covered her nose with her palm

"such a shame!"

"You do this same thing over and over again and it has turned you into nothing but a foolish drunkard"

She said lastly but that didn't land well because Mike gave her two resounding slaps across her cheek.

She screamed and held her face.

"You monster, why don't you just kill me uhn? "

She said shouting at the top of her voice.

"Keep quiet!"

Mike retorted and stared at her

"You're disturbing the neighbors in this condominium"

he reminded her pointing his index finger towards her.

They live in a complex building with thirty other neighbors in their various apartment. It was more like a penthouse which was owned by the smiths.

The penthouse has a tall structure with a rooftop, large courtyard with elevators and different floors.

Mike walked off angrily into the bathroom to probably wash himself up while Vicky slumped on the sofa and started sobbing uncontrollably.

This has been what she had been passing through ever since her marriage started crumbling,

She and Mike had drifted completely far from each other. It was like they were worst enemies.

What had she done to deserve this? Or what might have gone wrong?, she kept asking herself. Ever since her husband had introduced her to one of his friends, Kelvin, it seemed like he had changed. She didn't know why but she disliked this Kelvin just on impulse.

She felt he might also be a bad influence on Mike and might be a factor for Mike turning to a monster overnight.

"This is not the Mike I married back then"

She said and cleaned her tears. She stood up and was about to open the door of the bedroom but stopped. She would prefer sleeping beside her son, Josh, than spend the night with the monster she now has as a husband. As she got to her son's room, she saw her little boy was fast asleep unaware of the short brawl that had occured between mum and dad just now.

She cried as she kissed Josh on the forehead, feeling sorry for her son that he had crazy parents like them. She sat up on the bed and was sobbing but later stopped so she wouldn't wake Josh. She was soon forced to sleep so as to prepare for the next day.

---

The next day was a Saturday and it was Mike and Vicky's fifth wedding anniversary, January 15th,.

It was quarter to eight in the morning and Vicky was still asleep when her phone rang.

"Aaaaargh!!"

She exclaimed with sleepy eyes, probably wasn't in the mood to wake up early on a Saturday.

It read 'Sweet mom' on the screen, obviously, it was her mother calling.

She picked the phone and dunked back on the bed lazily.

"Hello, good morning mommy!*

Jessica greeted with a sleepy tone

"Happy fifth wedding anniversary honey!"

A happy Mrs Ann greeted.

"Thanks mom!"

Vicky responded, still feeling sleepy.

"Common honey!, Don't tell me you are still in bed, were you asleep when I called?"

"Yes mom!"

"Oh sorry honey, but you and Mike should be awake by now, probably preparing on how you will make this day special, not only for the two of you but also for your son, Josh".

Mrs Ann said over the phone.

"Okay mom!"

"I would have come visiting but dad and I are going on a trip to Indiana".

"Oh, okay mom".

"What of Mike?, Is he beside you?, can I greet him too?"

Mrs Ann said

"Urmm..urhhh …"

Vicky said confused because she knows Josh was the one beside her as she had slept in his room last night.

"What is it honey?, Is he not by your side?"

"No..no..urm..yes mom, it's ..it's just that he's still asleep you know, Mike sleeps a lot"

Vicky lied,

"Okay!, Send my greetings to him when he is awake okay"

"Okay mom, I will"

"I sent some gifts for you guys, when you see it, don't bother to call, just know that it's from me and dad, okay".

"Okay!"

"Happy anniversary once again, Vicky".

"Thanks mom!"

Vicky said and switched off the phone before falling lazily on her bed.

Not quite long, Josh was awake and she knows what that means.

No time to sleep anymore.

"Good morning mommy!"

A happy Josh greeted

"Morning my prince"

Vicky replied to him with a peck on the forehead.

"Mom! What are you doing in my room?, Did you sleep here last night?"

A confused Josh asked because he wondered what his mom was doing on his big bed.

"Coz I just wanna sleep in your room"

Vicky said cutely with a funny face which made Josh laugh than usual.

"Why?"

"Why did you sleep in my room?"

"Because your bed is comfy"

"No it's not".

"Yes it is".

"No it's not".

They kept saying and Vicky took a chance to tickle him while Mike was at the door, smiling as he heard the loving moments from both mother and son.

VICKY finally stood up and left the room with Josh.

Josh ran to greet his dad while Vicky went to make breakfast.

Just then the doorbell was heard and Mike went to the door to see who could be there that very morning.

It was the delivery man.

He was with cake and some gift items in his hand.

"Good morning!"

"Happy wedding anniversary!"

He greeted Mike.

"Urrrhh…Thanks".

Mike managed to say.

"From who?"

A confused Mike asked as he stared at the items in the man's hand

"Oh! Sorry for not mentioning that earlier".

"They are from the Daves"

The man finally revealed.

"Oh!, Thanks".

Mike said collecting the items from the man's hand and placing them on the table.

"Happy anniversary once again!"

The man said before leaving while Mike closed the door with a sigh.

Mike's phone rang, it was a call from his parents.

They greeted him and Vicky for their anniversary and after the greeting, Vicky returned to the Kitchen. She doesn't want to have anything to say or do with Mike after last night's brawl.

She was still angry at Mike for hitting her and Mike on the other hand was never willing to apologise.

Mike's phone rang again, this time around, it was a call from kelvin.

He picked the call and kelvin reminded him of their outing that very day.

They were going for a popular festival in Hawaii and Mike had agreed to follow him.

Mike went to his room to probably bathe and change into his Hawaiian shirt and jeans with espadrilles.

He returned to the sitting room, staring at the wall clock when Josh came running to his side.

"Dad, are you going out again?"

Josh asked sadly.

"Yes Josh!, I have somewhere I need to be right now".

Was Mike's response to him.

"Is it that important than your anniversary?"

Josh asked and the question met Mike unawares.

"Urn…..urm…..ur…"

He was speechless as he could not find what to say.

Vicky entered the dining room to serve Josh his breakfast..she was done with cooking in the kitchen.

"Mom!"

Josh said running to her.

"Dad is going out again, can't you tell him to stay behind?"

Josh said to his mom.

"Come have breakfast Josh,"

Vicky said ignoring his question.

"Mom!"

"Please talk to dad".

Josh said cutely as he sat to eat his food.

Mike went to his room, probably to get his wristwatch when Vicky entered.

"So,"

"You are going out"

Vicky said with folded arms while he remained speechless as he wore his wristwatch.

"I wouldn't have known of your intention to leave the house this morning if Josh hadn't told me".

"Atleast you have eyes to see me dressed up".

"So that's how you are gonna spend the rest of the day, dress up and leave with kelvin to God-knows-where?"

Vicky said now becoming angry.

"Vicky please okay"

Mike pleaded.

"We have somewhere important we need to be".

"Oh! Really".

Vicky scoffed.

"Important than our anniversary"

"Even if you can't make this day special for me, but our son, he's right there go show him your love and time, no, all you do is dress up and go out to see that fool"

"VICKY!!!!"

Mike yelled

"You know what?"

"Its such a waste of time talking to you".

VICKY said lastly and went out of the room.