*A/N: ⚠️mentions of rape, violence, and abuse.⚠️*

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"Can you believe this? Above all the mess I'm going through at work, this tops the cake. Bryce actually left me. Jess, he went on that damn tour without thinking about our child. He just fucking left me, leaving me to do all these things new parents are supposed to do. Together. Go to doctor visits, have a baby shower and gender reveal, shop for the baby. Before you know it, the baby will be here and he won't be. Can you believe this mess, Jess?"

When you're in an argument with someone and they tell you to leave, you're not actually supposed to leave. You stay and make sure that everything is okay. Whoever said it's okay to just leave was wrong.

How dare he leave his pregnant wife to go off to some bumbling Christian tour with those incompetent band members of his. What's more important: his wife or all these church members around the world? Couldn't this have waited until the baby popped out?

Of all the things that have brought me stress, Bryce leaving me shouldn't have been one of them. Now that I think about it, it could possibly be my fault but I highly doubt that.

When Bryce found out about the pregnancy, he wasn't surprised like I expected. In fact, Bryce was pissed off and I could see it in his eyes after my big reveal while we were on vacation. The fact that he knew the whole time scared the shit out of me. He caught a case for the wrong reason.

All this time, I figured he'd panic over us having a child because we both agreed to not have children in the first place. Somehow, some way, he was frustrated over the fact that I never told him instead. Hence why we ended the honeymoon early.

After that burst of sudden information, he stopped talking to me for days at a time. Soon, work took over with the both of us and I eventually worked my ass off early mornings to late evenings just so I wouldn't talk to Bryce.

Yeah, that's making it worse but why would you talk to someone while you're angry? Had I been given Bryce a piece of what Jess has shown me all these years, he'd probably be in the hospital right about now.

Anyway, weeks went by and it was time for Bryce to come up with a decision to leave. At first, he didn't want to go. Remember that time in my office when he said he wouldn't go if I wouldn't go with him? What do they say before breaking bad news to somebody? 'You're gonna look back on that and laugh?' Guess who's laughing at those words now?

At church, his little band members literally asked the congregation if Bryce should go on this tour right after singing their last song during praise and worship. That same Sunday, he left without a word. Can you feel how pissed off I am about that? See why I say 'it could possibly be my fault but I highly doubt that'?

When he calls, I ignore it and send it straight to voicemail. Why would I want to talk to the man that screwed me over and chose his band members over his wife he put a baby in? Especially since I'm super angry at him right now.

This would normally be something I'd shove under the rug after so long. We'd come together and talk about things like this, agree to disagree sometimes, but my emotions were amplified. I miss my husband with all my heart and wish this would have gone differently.

At the same time, he can kiss my white pancake ass.

"Tiff, I really wish I knew what to say to you right now to help you. You know I can't put my paws on him until he hits me first, if I burn his shit, you'll be pregnant and without a place, and let me keep him in a basement with no food or water. You'll regret me doing that later."

Though she was joking, she's threatened him with that in the past when Bryce and I got into an argument. He straightened up so fast during our relationship, demanding a certain lifestyle, and I disagreed to that lifestyle. Jess came in and almost drug him across the carpet then threatened me if we didn't work it out. That's how we both agreed to no babies. Look how that turned out.

"It's so unfair and I'm surprised Bryce would do something like this. He'd never just leave without saying goodbye or having a good reason to do so. What the hell happened now?" she called me out.

"Well, stop beating that punching bag into a pulp and I'll tell you."

She stopped punching in surprise of my snarky remark and it swung back to knock her off her focus, all of this making me chuckle a little.

Rolling her eyes my way, she ceased on destroying the punching bag and lowered her tense shoulders with a "Be lucky you're my best friend or I would've put the paws on your ass."

As we chuckled together, she sat beside me and waited until the story came from my lips. Instead, my eyes studied all of her. She looked so much healthier! No wrinkles, less darkening around her eyes, her face was glowing, and she's gained a bit of weight. It makes her look beautiful! I guess what's what a long-awaited penis will do for you.

"Helloooooo? Tiff? Tell me what happened!"

Right! The situation at hand. After I explained what happened after the wedding and the other series of events that came with it, Jess gets defensive. Not surprising.

"Okay, you're not going to admit it but this is your fault. Though I'd really like to choke the hell out of him for just up and leaving with the church, I can't fault him for it."

Seriously, Jess? So much for being a best friend!

I sighed at what she said because there's no arguing with that. Had I opened my mouth and told him how my feelings, he'd probably still be here and not so angry with me. At the same time, it's his fault because he put pressure on me in the first place. So, if anyone should be pissed off, it should be me. I knew it wasn't exactly my fault.

Fuck, I haven't even been married to the man for a whole year and my marriage is already falling apart. My marriage is on the rocks like an alcoholic drink I can't have.

Jess bit her lip back in, what looked like, thought. Now, I wish we were back at my house because I needed a cup of tea after all of this. Losing sleep, back pains, uncomfortable weight gains, work stress, all while trying to keep my husband. Being a woman is hard work.

"You know what I think you should do? Just stop trying, Tiff. We both have that bad. Trying to keep things around that we may not need."

Is she serious? Someone must still be thinking of her past relationship because this is not the same issue. This is not about her and whatever they had going on. Although this could mean anything, I took it as 'get rid of Bryce and be a single mother with nothing to live for'.

"So, you're telling me to leave a great man behind? Jess, this is not-"

Oh, I really had to stop myself there because I was about to hit a nerve. I looked around the kickboxing building and thought of a completely different route as she got up from the bench.

Clearing my throat, I came up with "Jess, I cannot leave him. It's not that easy-"

"How the hell did you get that from what I just said? I literally said stop trying so hard. We hold onto things that we probably need to get rid. When you hold onto everything, they gain the power and get a big ass head. Especially when you've held on for way too long. Stop trying to be all cute and just answer the phone when he calls you. That's what I'm saying."

"What if he really did leave out of spite though, Jess? Great, now I really need to talk to him."

"If that's the case, he'd be waiting for an ass whooping but, knowing him, I don't think that's what he wants. He was just giving the people what they wanted. You do know he's in a band, right?"

Maybe I had to speak to someone else about it before speaking to my husband. Sometimes, you just have to listen to how you sound first before presenting it to someone else.

Speaking of presenting, I realized that a sketch was due before tomorrow. Why should I even try when Gabby wouldn't even take a glance at it? Maybe Jess' advice comes into play with that. Just throw some old cloth together and make maternal loungewear. Wait a minute...

Looking over at Jess, she was punching the bag so hard that it could be unconscious if it were human. Somebody was mad for no reason.

"I'm surprised you're not kicking someone's ass right now. Instead, you're beating up that poor punching bag who did nothing to you."

Her eyes were so focused on the thing in front of her as her taped fists hit against the vinyl material. She stretched her neck with a straightened lip and tensed jaw. Veins popping from her neck as she-

She was holding something in and didn't want to tell me. That's what she does whenever she doesn't want to tell me something. As if she's about to explode or something. Whatever happened to taking your own advice?

"If I could, you'd be the one KOed right now. Like I said, be grateful you're my friend and you're pregnant."

Woah, what did I do to her? How'd she become offended with me?

"Jess, what's your problem? What's with the threats at me again?"

"Tiff, you were about to say something that was going to make me rearrange your jaw. Apparently, your problem isn't like my...'situation'. As if to downplay what's going on in my life. That bothered me. What I have going on isn't like it's not stressing me out still. It's not something you compare or use as an example. I still feel like shit about it, Tiff."

Okay, now I get it. I figured she'd skip over my words but when she stood up from the bench, I should've known that wasn't happening. It's a good thing that we're talking this out instead of putting me in a chokehold. She's never done it but it could happen.

"I'm sorry, Jess. I was just wanting answers and it seemed like you were still in your feelings about your separation. You seem way too happy to be feeling the way you do. You have Mario, you're glowing, your kids are doing good. Why would you still be upset?"

When you think you know a person, they show you they're different.

"Tiff, I have to take this one day at a time. One minute, I'm enjoying my time with Mario. The next, I asked for some time alone and come to fuck up another punching bag. It's not like she's not still on my mind and Mario knows that. The only way to keep my mind off all that shit is to come up here and sink it all into this thing."

My eyes look over the hanging material, thinking of all the nasty, sweaty hands that probably touched all over it. All the bodies that laid over all over matted floor and whatnot. It disgusted me, making me wonder why I chose to meet her here.

"Jeremy barely stays he and the rest of the trainers let me come by to kick my thought's asses. Another reason why I probably seem so happy around you all. Take a punch. You may need it."

She was not encouraging me to put my precious paws on that thing. What would I gain from touching this nasty, sweat-stained, synthetic piece of...

Then again, I may want to give a punch just one time. The more my eyes stuck to the material, my mind encouraged me to take Jess' advice. The punching bag transformed itself into Gabby, as she gawked about how much my designs were 'less than average' and telling me to come up with something original.

Who knew that her constant insults about my hard work and personality would have me in a kickboxing studio, hitting a punching bag that obviously resembled her? I smacked her out of the built anger that's hid behind my bright-smiled makeup I showed up in every morning for a little two years. I smacked her out of confusion due to the misinformation she gave to me, smacked her out of the loneliness she caused because my designs were never allowed in a collection or fashion show...and out of fear. Because I always felt that I couldn't branch out on my own or I'd lose my job for making a small mistake like adding a red tie to a green business suit.

Gabby soon turned into Chad, the youth minister that confessed his love for me but had me twisted up like a pretzel behind the church as if I were my sister at her age. No shade towards her because she'd agree.

That smile filled with sunshine was really filled with manipulation and evil. He walked up to me slowly with open arms, attempting to hug me out of pity. That deserved a soft punch to that pretty-boy face that all the young girls fell for. That all the young girls trapped themselves in. That same pretty-boy face that had me moan his name in an empty church. How could I disrespect God the way I did for a mere 45 minutes of pleasure?

His hands all over me made me push him away but he kept coming back towards me. Eventually, he turned into Heath...my sister's ex-boyfriend, my niece's sperm donor, and the ruthless individual that ate little 12-year-old me up.

He just stood there, staring at me with that slick wicked smirk on his face before laughing at my youth. My naïve nature was abused and the idea of that alone had me attack him like a lioness protecting her cubs; me, protecting my adolescence.

Every punch and slap were intentional for him preying on my youth and tearing my sister and me apart. My hands gripped onto his head and I slammed his head into the ground, watching the blood seep through his nose and his face turn red until...

Until he turned into my sister...screaming for me to stop.

"TIFF! STOP IT NOW! Are you okay?! What's wrong with you?!" Jess called me out of my thoughts.

I found myself on top of the fallen punching bag and instantly stood up from it. Everything just came out all at once and so fast. My mind felt like it was in space, floating in a mist of confusion and distress, wondering why my sister was on my mind and why I was punching her.

"Jess, what happened?" I turned to her with a careful look on her face. She slowly moved closer to me and checked me out.

"Girl, you went from slapping the damn punching bag to throwing down on it like this was a wrestling ring. You literally broke it. What was going on in that crazy mind of yours?"

She was trying to snatch me out of my thoughts but I finally realized why Carmon was the victim of my punches. I wasn't over it. The memories of being used by my own sister played over and over in my mind like a rewound VHS tape. Every manipulation tactic in bad quality, all to be with the man she lusted over. To get everything she ever wanted.

Swearing to secrecy, lying to Mom and Papa, lying to Aunt Clara, helping her in her time of need, putting the blame on myself just to keep her out of trouble because she'd 'pay me back for everything', and believing every lie she told me all because she was my big sister. My role model.

"Tiff, snap out of it! Look at me! This baby in your stomach has you damaging property, bitch! What's going on right- Are you crying?"

Tears fell from my tired eyes and I couldn't control them coming. This wasn't part of the pregnancy journey. Even if I wasn't pregnant, I'd still feel this way. Angry, filled with resentment, confused, and feeling neglected.

Putting my trust in someone that didn't deserve my love or patience...or trust. I really thought we were so close back then. That she loved me. We're still so far even though we seem to be so close. Even in our late 20s.

Hearing her words over and over again in my head, telling me to get over it, but it will never leave the dark space in my heart. It's a constant reminder of that we need to talk about this again. I probably could never completely forgive her for this as it harbors my heart but I can try. She's still my big sister no matter what.

"Jess, I have to go. I have some things to resolve. It was great talking to you."

My hands wiped away the tears that covered my cheeks and I struggled to get off the ring. The salted water covered my vision but I eventually got down. Jess called from behind me as I marched towards the door.

"Girl, I'm following you. There's no telling what you'll do after all of that and in broad daylight? I'm worried."

"I wouldn't do anything malicious to someone who I truly cared for despite the criminal things she's done to me. Because she's my sister."

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What's up, folks?!

When writing this and the other chapters, I thought that each girl needed to see a therapist.

Then I realized that therapy doesn't work for everybody. This is NOT to say that you shouldn't seek therapy. Please do if these things are happening to you. However, for some people, other things work for them like writing or wrestling or boxing, making clothes, etc. I'm saying this to say if you feel that therapy isn't your thing, put your energy into something you enjoy doing and talk to someone else.

Anyway, what did you think about this chapter?

Do you think that Tiff and Bryce will talk again?

Will things end badly for Carmon and Tiff?

Well, SURPRISE! It's Double Screwed Saturday! See ya in the next chapter!