When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 14

Chapter 14



The day after, Brenda told me she had sorted everything out, and that was when I realized she was supposed to leave early that morning.

"Melanie, I've wanted to talk to you about this for a while," she started, her voice laced with a hint of hesitation. "But I was worried about how it might affect your recovery. I was on the fence about taking Rocky with me. I only went through with the paperwork because I thought, what if you couldn't take care of him?"

Brenda's son had been urging her to move to Aurorea for the longest time, but she was in a dilemma because she was concerned for me and Rocky. To speed up her departure, her family even shelled out more cash.

I insisted on giving her the money, but she shook her head at me. "Sweetheart, I know things haven't been easy for you. Which family around here is short on cash? Only you."

My financial struggles and my poverty were an open secret in our neighborhood. Clyde bringing women home was no news to anyone. To them, I was a pitiful, tragic figure.

I never hid my troubles but also never spoke of them voluntarily.

Maybe only Clyde thought he was being super good to me, what with all the money he'd given me, more than a lot of folks could bring in their whole lives.

Leaving the airport and watching the planes overhead, I didn't know where Rocky was, but I knew he'd be well-cared for and have a long, happy life. Returning home to the empty house, it felt devoid of warmth. Despite it being summer, the place was chilling to the bone.

nutrition and take my medication with more chemotherapy sessions in the pipeline. I cooked myself pasta, but it was so awful that I left

work the next day might help shake off this feeling of loneliness. Before I knew it, I had drifted off

reeking of alcohol, climbed into bed, startling me awake. "Babe, why didn't you

his head bobbing against my shoulder, his voice carrying a tone of

on my sore spots without realizing it. "Babe, why have you lost so much

iced coffee. Come on. Get up and have some. Eating more will help you gain some weight."

the cheapest bakery near our school, always bustling but not

insert the straw into the coffee and bring it to my lips, I couldn't help but take a sip. It tasted terrible, all artificial flavor. But I smiled genuinely for the first

the coffee on the table, gently wiping away my tears. "Once you've had my coffee, you're stuck with me. No talking about divorce, okay? Who will buy you cupcakes and coffee if you

drinking because I

kisses then came, tentative at first, but soon, I returned them passionately, feeling as if my heart was finally

see my wounds, nor did I want to

looked at me, confused, and

picking it up and squinting at me. "Baby, is

No more

head, my blood running cold. The allergy wasn't mine. It was

slapped hard on his

at me with

door, gasping for breath.