The path I have chosen now has led me to a wall, and with each passing day I feel a little more like something dear was lost. It rises now before me, a dark and silent barrier between all I am, and all I would ever want to be.- Kansas, The Wall.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Do's And Don't's

Where the hell was she? It was two in the morning for Christ sakes.
Why hadn't she called? Why was her number unavailable? What if something happened to her? Sure, she was late sometimes but never this late.

Daniel paced around the room. He couldn't sit still. It was already two thirty and Abby still wasn't back from work. What the hell kind of a stupid job kept a married woman till two in the morning? He'd tried sleeping, no way. He'd even watched TV just to pass time but his mind was unsettling. Eventually, he'd walked into his bedroom, called her again, and groaned when the operator said it was unavailable.

This was new for him. He didn't know what to think. Abby kept late nights often, because he assumed her job was hectic and he knew she had things that needed to be done at work, he never questioned her about it. But this was a first. She never stayed out until 12. And she didn't even think to call.

He laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how much his wife had changed in the past year. The old Abby would never let her husband eat dinner alone. The old Abby would never stay out late and not call. The old Abby would never let her husband worry about her.

This was definitely not the Abby he knew.

Minutes later, Abby walked into the room, looking flushed. Daniel hadn't heard her come in. He sat up straight, staring at her and waiting for an explanation.

Abby strolled through the room, past her husband, and into the bathroom. She hadn't even stopped to greet. Daniel was surprised. What the hell was going on?

‘‘You're not the girl I used to know,
you're a shadow of yourself.
I think I lost you long ago,
like a book that's left the shelf.
I hear the footsteps down the hall,
and I know someday that will be you
leaving me, for good.’’

Abby walked out of the bathroom, in her night gown. She ignored Daniel stares as she walked, taking her phone and sending a quick message to someone. Daniel didn't know what to do or say. For once in his married life, he was confused as fuck.

“Abby, are you gonna tell me where you've been for the past three, four hours?” Daniel asked the minute Abby came to sleep by him on the bed.

“I'm really not in the mood, Daniel. I had a very day busy day at work and I need my rest.” Abby yawned, switching her phone off and placing it on the nightstand.

Daniel chuckled without humor. This was not how he envisioned his marriage when he said ‘I do.’.

“That's why you came home at three in the morning? Does that sound reasonable to you?” Daniel angered piqued.

“I'm really tire-” Abby stared but was cut off

“You're a married woman for God's sake! You shouldn't be acting like a sixteen year old.” Daniel yelled.

“Don't yell at me! I have a huge headache and if we do this, we're only going to end up arguing.” Abby fixed herself under the covers.

“Abby, what's going on? You go to work at seven in the morning and you come back the next day. You're never home for dinner. What's happening?” Daniel leaned closer to her, putting his hand over her shoulder.

Abby scooted away from him, like she was disgusted at his touch. Daniel flinched when he saw her expression.

“I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself. Surely, you don't expect me to stay home all day and bake apple pies. I won't be that kind of wife. I will never be. If you don't like my pattern of work, you better deal with it because I won't quit for anything in this world. Not even you.”

And with that, she turned, switched off the lights and when to bed.

Daniel stared dumfounded at Abby. What the hell just happened? How had it come to this? Was this how he was going to spend his entire life? In regret? Because he sure was regretting getting married. He felt lost. This was the same Abby that loved his attention. The same Abby that didn't want to work without him. .

Charlee.

He needed Char. He needed his best friend. But she wasn't picking his calls or replying to any of his text messages or emails.
How the hell did everything get so screwed up? How had he managed to lose both his best friend and wife?

But one thing was certain.

This was not the Abby he married.

————————

Saddle up people. We're going for a ride.

Enough with the sad shit. Even I, am tired of it.
The real story starts here.
You're in for a ride!!!!!

Oh and yeah, the song in the chapter is Not The Girl by Darey Art Alade, a Nigerian artist. It's really emotional.

Until next time, yo!

~ Gift.