- 3.
I pulled out the house contract from my bag, tears falling on the paper. I wiped them away, not wanting to damage it.
I’d always thought Ben didn’t want to get
married because he was poor and afraid of my parents.
When my mom called, he had heard it all.
“His parents are gone, he’s not educated, doesn’t make as much as you, no car, no house. What are you seeing in him? It’s just his face? “You could do better. Come back home, I’ll introduce you to all those eligible bachelors, they’re so much better.”
I covered the phone: “Mom, he’s working on a
project, he’ll get a raise next month. He’s hard- working and good to me. I really like him.
“As for a house, we’ve saved up for a down
payment. The mortgage, our pension will cover
<
9:18
984
2400
it, things are looking up, okay?”
I hung up, found all my bank cards and spread
them out on the bed. Then I looked at him:
“Let’s get married. I got the money, I can
support you.”
Ben looked surprised, some emotion flashed in
his eyes, but he just said wait.
I thought he meant to wait until he got
promoted, then he’d come back for me.
I couldn’t read him, all he did was laugh in my face.
I thought about surprising him, but he was already plotting to get out of the game.
It was a joke. I was laughing through my tears.
I had to hold on to myself to stop me from
barging through that door.
I stepped back. This truth was hard to swallow,
I pulled out my phone and made the call.
That’s when I saw Ben hold up his hand, like he was silencing a room.
I made my voice normal: “You still at work?” His usual calm voice answered, “Yeah, probably another hour or two. Why aren’t you sleeping?”
9:18
984
I wiped my eyes, “I had a fall, I’m in the
hospital…”
I could see Ben straighten up from where I was
sitting.
“Which hospital?” He got his coat from one of
the guys.
Ben hung up, put out his smoke. His friend asked him, “Where you going? You just got here.”
“Girlfriend’s in the hospital.”
“That’s not your girlfriend…”
Ben looked back, his eyes flat and cold. He
didn’t say a word, but it made the guy freeze.
