Monica sat on the worn-out couch that once spread beauty through their tiny parlor back when she'd received it as part of her wedding gift with Tony. Now time and hardship has worn its way into the beauty, leveling it into a shadow of its former self. Her attention dabbled between her early married days and her elder sister who sat perched on one of the torn couches complaining about her life. It reminded Monica of the deep seated regret she bore in her heart. The taste of failure, the feeling of guilt for staying married to a deadbeat.
Maureen was dense and selfish and persona non grata.

"You shouldn't be complaining about anything at all Maureen. You have money and can afford anything you want, but look at me... I can barely fend for myself and my daughter, and my husband is wayward. Sometimes I wish he was dead so I would be free to go about my life!" She sighed dejectedly.

Maureen watched her sister in wonder.
"You are your problem, Monica!" She spat.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes! I'll say it again. How many times have I advised you to leave Tony? But once you return home to him he feeds you with lies and dirty humpy-dumpy sex you forget yourself, mtcheww!!" She exclaimed, her hands in the air.

"He's the father to my children and I can't take care of them alone, so I consider them too," Monica lamented.

"Then why are you complaining?" Maureen asked.

Monica weighed her next words, eyes never leaving that of her sister's. "I can't bear his bad traits anymore and I think my children are old enough to live without their father. I have been feeding from hand to mouth since I married that wretch. I want to enjoy life like you, just take a look at you dear, you look like a teenager, eh?"

Maureen smiled as soon as the attention was back on her. She swished her hips adjusting properly and proudly as she drank in the praise. "Thanks, dear, I'll try and send you something to manage and once I buy a new house I'll invite you to live with me."

"Does Sophia remember?!"

"No, she doesn't. I don't think she'll ever. It's been months, almost getting to a year and yet nothing. That's why I hardly visit her. I don't want her to see my face and get triggered. So I stay away as long as I can and also I'm running her account on her behalf. She doesn't need money for anything since she's crippled, so I just pay the doctors and take care of myself with the rest. I want to open a supermarket."

"Really?... You are a genius! I need a stepdaughter." Monica muttered. "Who would ever imagine that you'd gain a lot from her predicaments or from marrying her sick father?!" Monica wondered.

"My dear. I had to be wise, if not, I would've been feeding her and paying her school fees till now. But Monica I have a problem..."

"What is it?"

"Please... I want to confide in you so much and I don't want to hear this from anyone else. Can you promise me that?"

"Of course, dear, trust me."

"Well... I love someone but he's not seeing me in that light. I mean I have the looks, you said so yourself right?" She asked and Monica nodded.

"But he can't seem to love me back, I've tried everything I can... It makes me feel so old that he doesn't want me. I have money and he's well to do too but... Dear, I do love him. I don't care if he's not proud of me outside, I just want him to look at me like a woman." she lamented.

Monica swallowed hard. This was a different thing for her. She'd always known her sister to be a free person who got whatever she wanted or was close to gold-digging. Maureen hardly loved for love; it was always about the money. And that was why she encouraged Monica to leave Tony because he was a taxi driver.

"Who is it?" Monica's voice trailed, unsure what the answer would be.

"Eh... Well, you don't know him," She huffed.

"Well, I'll have to. Does he have a lot of cash?" She asked in scrutiny.

"What?! Of course, he's a medical doctor."

"Stanley?!!" Monica cried, stupefied.

Maureen hissed. "Yes, I've lived with him and seen how different he is from the other men I've known."

Monica couldn't shut her hanged jaw as she took in Maureen's gut filled expression. "Isn't he your stepdaughter's friend, this is implicating," she questioned.

"How? He would never tell Sophia. I know Stanley is not stupid, I know he cares for me but still feels unsure of how Sophia would react to the news."

"Seriously? I don't think he will want you, Maureen. I don't mean to be rude but if he wants you he would've made a move even without Sophia's consent. My issue here is that you are going to ruin our master plan if eventually Sophia finds out. Can't you find another man at least a little bit older than him?!! It's about the money again right?" She accused.

"What do you mean?!"

Monica snickered. "I mean you can never get over yourself and your wants. Isn't it enough that you have your stepdaughter's money as yours? Now you want to marry Stanley and his money. I know that was why you married Bernard."

The creases on her brows intensified, her breathing grew heavier as she snarled at Monica. "I will not have you call me a gold digger in my presence. You have no right at all. I'm doing this for us!"

"Eh?!!" Monica stood to her full length to seem more intimidating. The truth always hurts like pepper for Maureen.
The younger sister let out a dry mocking laugh. One that told the both of them that the truth wasn't far from their hearts. "For us? Or for yourself alone. Look at me!! Look at my house and surroundings and look at you!" She barked, gesturing to her surroundings.
"And you tell me you do it for us. Please spare me Maureen, it's always about the money."

A second passed before Maureen spoke. "I love him and I don't care what you think. This time it's different. With Bernard, I was desperate but not with Stan. Excuse me," she stood and walked out on her sister who watched with a difficult expression.

***

Sophia did her regular physiotherapy. Mild, slow and painful stretches that left her breathless and sore but happy for yet another feat achieved. She was happy her doctor stretched her beyond her limits today even though Stanley wasn't there to see it. He would've clapped in congratulatory applause and mashed up a little dish for the sake of celebrating her journey, but the idea of laughter and food didn't elate her that much.

She hasn't been herself since the midnight incident. She'd mentally tortured herself about it and worst of all Jason never came back the next night nor the ones that followed. It hurt her so much that she had spent all her time trying to forget him and the incident but it was difficult.

She noticed he resumed his routine of keeping late nights, reeking of alcohol and stumbling into every corner of the house. He'd managed to break more than seven breakables that were either in his way or he'd picked up with those drunken hands of his. Every night meant that Sophia would be woken by the sounds of something crashing, someone grunting, stumbling and slamming the doors, fridge— or anything that made a loud bang when shut. This nightly occurrence had prompted the maids into early morning hunt for shards of glasses and thorough cleaning of spilled liquids even before the sun was up.

They were back to purposely avoiding each other. She didn't want to think so much about it. It wasn't good for her health but even her bed at night began to haunt her. The emptiness beside her, the lack of warmth emanating from another's body and filling hers was greatly missed.
Now her only solace was getting life back into her legs, at least it would help her escape the confines of the house which was gradually suffocating her.

Then this calm evening came when Stanley decided to stay over and keep her company while secretly avoiding going home to Maureen, his ever agony. As the cinematic lights changed from dark intro theme to a much brighter light of the first scene of the movie on the large sixty five inch television on the wall. Sophia felt that their unprecedented night movie binge would be the best time spent. She was already feeling giddy about the movie and the popcorns and everything that recreated being in a cinema with her friend when the door to the entrance slammed open and footsteps waddled into the living room, interrupting their peace.

Jason staggered into the living room with Charlotte perched on his shoulder, both dead drunk!

Sophia heard a gasp and it came from her, sharp and disgruntled. Her eyes were saucers at the sight before her. And when Stanley stumbled into the scene with a bottle of water for Sophia who was thirsty and had requested one. His jaw clenched, fists dug deeper into the poor rubber bottle. Something in his innocent eyes changed as he took in Jason and his ex— French kissing the hell out of each other while Sophia watched.

"What the hell?!" Stanley yelled, sending the bottle straight at Jason's frame. The item hit Jason in the back of his chest barely making an impact when Stanley launched at the two.

Sophia screamed!
Charlotte screamed! With eyes shut, she staggered into  a corner in the darkness.

Eyes red with fury, Stanley threw away all manners and grabbed at Jason's collar, seizing up a good amount of his shirt before sending raps upon raps of slap on Jason's reddened face. "Asshole, how dare you?!" Stanley yelled, Sophia begged him to stop but he kept shoving and slamming into Jason who was totally wasted and unable to fight back.

"Stop it Stanley! Stop! Look, he's not even fighting back, he's not himself," she reasoned.

He finally let Jason go with a hard shove that sent him face down in a corner. "Is this what he's been up to?Sophia?!" He barked, eyes blurry with rage. She stayed silent and watched his rage turn to anger, regret, pity and rage again. His eyes set on the other intruder who was squatting behind the cushion, snoring. "I'll be back," he went over to Charlotte, picked her up with ease as well as her belongings and headed outside. When he returned, Sophia was still in her spot watching Jason wasted on the floor.

"I'm sorry you had to see that but I couldn't help myself. Is this what he does every time?" Sounding horrified. Stanley palmed his face, dragging his fingers down to his jawline. "Sophia?" He began his countenance that of a contrite man. "Let's get you to bed. He can sleep there on the floor for all I care."
He said, deciding not to push further seeing that the event was too hard for her to deal with. Imagine watching your husband suck lips with another girl right in the middle of your matrimonial home. The height of disrespect.

Stanley helped her retire to her room leaving Jason alone on the floor.

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